Kian Bell enters play Saturday in Melville with four goals in his last two games, and a league-high 37 in 37 games this season. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Road trip wraps

Stars close month in Melville in search of third straight

Jan 28, 2023 | 3:00 PM

The Battlefords North Stars return to play Saturday night in Melville, to wrap their weekend road trip against a motivated Millionaires squad.

The North Stars (36-3-2-1) enter play in top spot of the league standings, coming off a 4-2 victory over the Yorkton Terriers a night ago. Winners of two-straight, with a 19-point lead in the league standings, the Stars became the first team to clinch a playoff spot with their win over La Ronge earlier in the week.

The Millionaires (10-24-5-1) are 11^th overall heading into play Saturday, as the team desperately try to snap a six-game skid, and right the ship to get back in the playoff race. Melville currently sit 10 points back of eighth-place Weyburn for the final playoff spot.

The North Stars enter Saturday’s game led by a quartet of veterans.

Kian Bell is coming off his second straight two-goal night, to return to goal-per-game pace, extending his league-leading total to 37 goals in 37 games. Holden Doell, who picked up two assists for a second consecutive game, now sits on the brink of the 70-point mark with a league-best 69 points in 35 games.

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Forward Bradley Blake has three goals in his last two games, and four in his last four, while defenceman Tynan Ewart is coming off back-to-back two-assist outings, with a helper on the game winner each of the last two games.

Melville are led into play by deadline acquisition Jaxon Martens, who came over from Flin Flon in exchange for Zach Cain in the biggest inter-league blockbuster of the year. Martens has been among the hottest players in the SJHL in recent weeks, having scored goals in five straight, with six goals and seven points on his current streak.

Sam Schofield also enters play on a four-game scoring streak for the Mills, with a goal and seven points in his last four games. The 20-year-old left winger is coming off a three-point (1G, 2A) night Friday verus Humboldt, and has 12 points in just 14 games with the Millionaires this season.

Between the pipes, the North Stars will call on Justen Maric to make the start. In 11 games this year, the Edmonton, AB., product is 10-1 with a lights out 2.71 goals against average and .927 save percentage.

Melville’s Ethan Rau will get the nod at the other end. Making just his fourth start of the season, the 18-year-old goalie is in search of his first win in the junior ranks, with a 5.74 goals against average and .884 save percentage.

Saturday’s game in Melville will be available on 1050 CJNB. The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will begin slightly earlier than usual, with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 6:30 p.m. and puck drop to follow at 7 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1