North Stars forward Owen Underhill pictured here in the team's green third jerseys that will be auctioned off following Friday night's game. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Friday night Hockey

North Stars host Melville to open parent/billet weekend

Feb 24, 2023 | 2:57 PM

The Battlefords North Stars return to home ice Friday, for their first of back-to-backs at the ACC this weekend, in what will be their final weekend homestand of the regular season.

The North Stars (42-4-2-1) enter play first in the SJHL standings, with a chance to clinch the #1 seed overall with a single point. The team is coming off an 8-2 victory over Yorkton Tuesday, with eight wins in their last nine games overall.

The Millionaires (13-29-5-1) sit fourth in the Viterra Division and 11^th overall, looking to finish the season strong. With three wins in their last 10, Melville will be looking to bounce back quickly from a 7-1 loss to Estevan Wednesday night.

Kian Bell leads the North Stars into play, coming off an electrifying five-goal, six-point night against the Terriers. Bell enters the weekend with a league-high 49 goals and 84 points in 44 games this season. He also sits just a single goal away from becoming just the fifth North Star in franchise history to hit the 50-goal plateau, and the first in more than 30 years.

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Holden Doell, Jake Southgate and Steven Kesslering, who sit second, third, and sixth in league scoring have also been red-hot for the Stars, each coming off multi-point efforts of their own.

Doell (82 points in 42 games) is coming off a three-assist night Wednesday, while Southgate hit the 70-point mark in his 47th game with a goal and two helpers. Kesslering also added a goal and an assist to enter the top six in league points with 53 in 47 games.

Melville are led offensively by 20-year-old Jaxon Martens, who set up his team’s lone goal Wed., and enters play with a Mills-high 19 goals and 43 points in 47 games this season.

Carter McKay, who sits second in goals (14) and points (31) on the Melville roster, has four goals and five points in his last four games entering the weekend.

Steven Kesslering scored another goal and two points against Yorkton Wednesday, and enters the weekend with nine goals and 17 points in his last 11 games. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

In goal, the North Stars will turn to Justen Maric. In 14 games this season, Maric has posted a 13-1 record along with a 2.56 goals against average and .932 save percentage.

Melville are likely to counter with Ethan Rau, coming off a 33-save effort against the Bruins earlier in the week. Rau is 2-3-1 in eight games this season, with a 5.09 goals against average and .879 save percentage.

Friday night kicks off parent/billet weekend for the North Stars, and marks their final game this season wearing their alternate green third jerseys, which will be auctioned off following the night’s game at the Raptor Lounge in the rink.

Friday’s game at the Access Communications Centre 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