Holden Doell will make his return to the North Stars lineup Friday, after missing the last two games. The 19-year-old led the way with two goals, one assist and a scrap in the Stars' 7-3 win in Nipawin to open the season series last month. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

In search of seventh straight

Surging Stars host Hawks to open weekend home-and-home

Dec 9, 2022 | 2:03 PM

Two of the hottest teams in the SJHL will clash Friday night in North Battleford, as the Battlefords North Stars host the Nipawin Hawks, to kick off the teams’ home-and-home this weekend.

The North Stars (23-0-2-1) enter the weekend in top spot of the league standings, playing some of their best hockey of late. Coming off a 3-1 win Wednesday over second place La Ronge, the team returns to action Friday in search of their seventh straight victory.

The Hawks (13-12-1-1) are fourth in the Sherwood Division and seventh overall heading into the matchup, with seven wins in their last 10 and in search of their fifth straight. Nipawin’s offense is also coming off their highest goal output of the season in a 10-2 victory over Yorkton, Tuesday.

Friday’s game will be a homecoming of sorts, as former North Star Lowen Kenyon, who started his SJHL career in the Battlefords, will get the start for the visiting Hawks.

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Kenyon was acquired by Nipawin Dec. 1, and will make his Hawks debut against his former team. Kenyon posted a 7-3-1 record with the Stars the last two seasons, with a career 2.07 goals against average and .934 save percentage.

In goal for the Battlefords, Justen Maric will make his sixth start of the season. Maric is a 6-0, with a 2.33 goals against average and .937 save percentage this year.

Offensively, the North Stars will receive a shot in the arm with the return of centreman Holden Doell from Canada West Selection Camp. Doell’s return to the lineup will mean a re-uniting of the league’s top trio this year.

Doell, who leads the league with a 2.0 points per game average, sits third overall in SJHL scoring this year, with 40 points despite playing just 20 games thus far. He trails only linemates, Jake Southgate (42 points) and Kian Bell (41 points) in scoring, as the trio has sat 1-2-3 in league points since mid-November.

Southgate, who notched the game-winner Wednesday night, also leads the Saskatchewan League with 32 assists in 26 games, riding a six-game point streak into play. Bell leads all players with 21 goals in just 23 games, and also has points in six straight.

Nipawin are led by a strong middle of the ice, that features a 1-2 punch of pivots Alex Johnson and Carson Dobson.

Johnson leads the Hawks with 29 points (seven goals, 22 assists) in 26 games this year, while Dobson – a former captain of the Battlefords AAA Stars program– sits third in team scoring with 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists).

Dobson is also among the hottest Hawks heading into play, coming off a two-goal, three-point performance versus the Terriers Tuesday.

Friday’s game at the ACC 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