Forward Colby Bear will slot in at centre on the Stars' top line Saturday, alongside captain Jake Southgate (pictured) and Kian Bell. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

League's two hottest

North Stars hit road to Melfort in search of fifth straight

Dec 3, 2022 | 4:00 PM

The SJHL’s two hottest teams will clash Saturday night in Melfort, as the Battlefords North Stars set out on the road to take on the Melfort Mustangs.

The North Stars (21-0-2-1) enter play in top spot of the SJHL standings, looking to build on their eight-point lead over the field. The team has won four straight heading into play.

The Mustangs (13-8-5-0) enter play third in the Sherwood Division and sixth overall, having also played their best hockey of late, with six wins in their last seven, including most recently a 7-0 blanking of Yorkton, Friday.

The Stars are 2-0-0-1 through the first three games of their season series with the Mustangs, as Melfort is one of just three teams to beat the Stars this season (Humboldt and La Ronge being the others). (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

The North Stars will be without league-leading scorer, Holden Doell Saturday, fresh off a three-point game against the Hounds. The star centreman is preparing to head to the Team Canada West Selection Camp for the World Junior A Challenge.

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Filling in at top line centre for the team in Doell’s absence will be centre Colby Bear, who will slot in between Jake Southgate and Kian Bell.

Bear has been a force at both ends of the ice this season for the Stars with seven goals, 17 points in 23 games. He will complement Southgate (39 points) and Bell (38 points), who sit 2-3 in league scoring just back of the absent, Doell.

Steven Kesslering, who is also coming off a multi-point game Friday, is also among the players to watch heading into what’s expected to be a fast-paced contest.

Kesslering sits fourth in Stars’ scoring with 25 points in 22 games, and is coming off a two-point outing Friday with a goal and an assist.

Melfort are led offensively by Zac Somers, who has a team-best 29 points in 24 games this year.

Joining Doell as one of just four SJHLers invited to the Canada West selection camp, Somers has been among the hottest players in the league over the last month with 10 goals and 16 points over his last six games, including four straight multi-goal outings heading into Saturday.

Riley Ashe, who sits second in Mustangs’ scoring with 21 points in 25 games has also been a force this season with his speed and puck handling strength. Ashe’s 0.84 points per game is tops amongst all rookies in the Saskatchewan League this season.

Between the pipes, Josh Kotai will get the start for the Stars after getting a rare night’s rest Friday. Though 18 games, Kotai is 15-0-2-1 this season with a 1.94 goals against average and .945 save percentage.

Melfort are likely to give the nod to James Venne, who is coming off a 28-save shutout over the Terriers a night ago. In 12 games this season, Venne is 6-5-0-1 with a 2.56 goals against average and .914 save percentage.

Saturday’s game will be available on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7 p.m. with puck drop at 7:30 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1