A look at the 10 North Stars selected to represent the SJHL at this week's joint-league Showcase with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Best of the Best

North Stars excited for opportunity as SJHL/MJHL Showcase begins

Jan 31, 2023 | 12:42 PM

The best in Junior A hockey from Saskatchewan and Manitoba are set to face off Tuesday, for Day 1 of the annual SJHL/MJHL Showcase, held this year in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Ten North Stars are among the 60 players selected to represent the SJHL between the league’s two U20 teams and one U18 squad, for the two-day event that will run from Jan. 31 to Feb. 1.

Holden Doell, Kian Bell, Jake Southgate, Steven Kesslering, Tynan Ewart, Tanner Gold, and Josh Kotai will suit up for the league’s U20 Team Gold, coached by Stars’ bench boss Brayden Klimosko. Jackson Allan, Jordan Gibbs, and Jordan Grill will play for the Young Guns U18 Team Blue.

Team Gold will open the day’s event Tuesday, with their first game against the MJHL’s Team Red at 12 Noon. The full schedule is available below.

Made in Saskatchewan

Find My Plus One: The Canadian App for Getting Out and Living Your Best Life

Mar 09, 2026

Riderville

Ask Not for Whom the Ed Hervey Tampering Window Opens!

Feb 02, 2026

Seniors Scene

New Year - New Habits

Feb 02, 2026

Kian Bell, who leads the SJHL with 38 goals in 38 games this season, enters the Showcase red-hot, coming off three straight multi-point games last week, with five goals and six points on the streak.

One-third of the SJHL’s most dominant line this season, alongside Doell (71 points in 36 games) and Southgate (60 points in 41 games), Bell (69 points) said he’s looking forward to taking the ice with his teammates, in a familiar city for the event.

“It’s pretty cool, especially with 10 guys from our team able to represent our league, and it’s in Winnipeg where I’ve spent a lot of my years, so it’ll be fun to go back there and see some familiar faces,” Bell said.

Bell lived in Stonewall, Manitoba just north of Winnipeg for a time while his dad was stationed in the city, and also has family that still lives in Manitoba’s capital.

Kotai, who is also enjoying a season for the books with the North Stars this season, with a league-leading 26 wins, 2.26 goals against average, and .938 save percentage, said he’s looking to make the most out of his Showcase experience.

“It’s a great opportunity to be able to go out there and play with the best of the best in the league and against the Manitoba league too,” Kotai said. “It’ll be fun to play in front of lots of people and lots of scouts from all over.”

Kotai added that having nine of his Stars’ teammates alongside him, including six on Team Gold, to share the week with also adds a special wrinkle.

“We’re such a tight group, so we share lots of experiences on and off the ice together, and it will just be another one we add to the list,” he said.

All games for the Showcase will be available on HockeyTV.

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1