Marshall Light of the North Stars lines up on the draw opposite Hounds' forward, Davis Sato. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Back in Action

North Stars host Hounds for Tuesday night showdown

Dec 12, 2023 | 1:42 PM

Coming off a nine-day layoff since their last game (Dec. 2 versus Melville), the Battlefords North Stars return to action Tuesday night on home ice, as the team hosts the Notre Dame Hounds for a Nutrien Division showdown.

The North Stars enter play Tuesday second in the division and fourth overall in the SJHL standings with a 19-7-2-1 record through 29 games. With 41 points on the season, the team is tied with third-place Humboldt, who hold one game in hand; and are just a single point back of second-place Melfort, who have played two more games.

Looking to snap a two-game skid, coming off back-to-back overtime losses last weekend to Estevan and Melville, North Stars’ head coach Brayden Klimosko said the key to righting the ship will be playing a disciplined game and limiting penalties taken.

“I think staying disciplined is a huge thing for us,” the Battlefords’ bench boss said. “We took too many penalties [over the weekend] and were stuck in the box too much – I think seven times the one game and eight the other. You want everyone playing five-on-five hockey, and we’re at our best when we do that.”

Notre Dame is fourth in the Nutrien Division and 12^th overall in the league standings, with a 7-20-1-0 record through 28 games. With 15 points on the season, the Hounds sit three back of 11^th place Yorkton and 11 back of Melville for the eighth and final playoff spot.

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Taking centre stage for the North Stars Tuesday will be 18-year-old goaltender Logan Cunningham, who will make his SJHL debut between the pipes donning the black and silver. Cunningham, who joined the Stars from Edmonton of the Western Hockey League over the weekend, said he’s looking forward to getting into game action with the team.

“I’m really excited; I haven’t played in a couple of weeks, and it’s just a great opportunity to get back in the net,” Cunningham said. “I’m really looking forward to being part of a team with a winning culture, [after] a tough couple of seasons in the WHL, so I’m really excited to be here.”

Logan Cunningham, pictured here at practice this week. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Kian Bell leads the North Stars in scoring and sits third overall in the league scoring race with 42 points (18 goals, 24 assists) in just 16 games. Bell enters play on an eight-game goal streak (10 goals total), with multi-point efforts in seven of his last eight games (with 20 points in his last eight).

The Hounds are led offensively by Cole Wirun, who also paces his team in both goals (11) and points (25) in 19 games. Most notable about Wirun’s contributions this season has been his consistency, with at least a single point in 18 of his 19 games so far, coming off back-to-back multi-point efforts with a goal and an assist in both games against Melfort last weekend.

Just the second matchup of the season series this year, the North Stars won the first, back on Nov. 29, by an 8-2 score.

Johann Tremblay-Kau is likely to get the nod for the Hounds in goal. Having played 20 of his team’s first 28 games, the veteran from Westmount, QC., is 7-13-0 on the season with a 4.57 goals against average and .881 save percentage.

Tuesday’s NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcast will be available on 1050 CJNB with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7 p.m. and puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @MartyMartyPxP1