The preseason game starts at 7:30 p.m. on Monday. (Facebook/Snipe and Celly Sports Excellence and Pineridge Ford Place Arena)

By Derek Cornet

hockey

Battlefords North Stars, Ice Wolves set for preseason game at Flying Dust First Nation

Sep 11, 2023 | 3:09 PM

Residents of Meadow Lake and Flying Dust First Nation will get a taste of Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) action this evening during a preseason game at PineRidge Ford Place.

The Battlefords North Stars will take on the La Ronge Ice Wolves at the facility at 7:30 p.m. Both teams advanced to playoffs during the 2022-2023 season with the Battlefords North Stars emerging as the 2023 champions after a final four-game sweep.

“These small communities like to bring the SJHL games to their rinks and give the people [a chance] to see what the SJHL is all about,” Ice Wolves Head Coach Kevin Kaminski said about tonight’s game at Flying Dust.

“As always, it’s going to be fast-paced and hard-hitting. People are going to see some very good goaltending, they are going to see some very good defensive play. They are going to see some very good offence as well. We are playing against the SJHL champions and I’m sure they want to pick up where they left off.”

Both teams have already played one preseason game so far with the Ice Wolves losing 5-2 against the Flin Flon Bombers Saturday in La Ronge, and the Battlefords North Stars winning 8-4 Sunday at home against the Kindersley Klippers.

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All SJHL teams must reduce their current rosters done to 25 by the time the regular season begins Sept. 22.

“Everybody has to keep on improving and getting better day-by-day and buy into the system. An individual commitment as well, but buying into the team concept,” Kaminski said.

“We had all rookies. We Ethan Merriman and Kael Ratt who are both very young goalies right from the area. They did a hell of a job. They settled in very nicely. All of the rookies got an opportunity and now we sent some of the AAA kids back to their AAA teams, and there are going to be a few more cuts after every game now. They have to bring it at practice, they have to bring it at every shift and every game, and prove they want to be an Ice Wolf.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com