Riley Girod of the North Stars lines up for a faceoff against La Ronge's William Forsberg. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Friday night Hockey

North Stars host Ice Wolves for opening night of back-to-back

Feb 2, 2024 | 2:11 PM

The Battlefords North Stars return to action on home ice at the Access Communications Centre Friday night, opening a weekend back-to-back against the visiting La Ronge Ice Wolves.

The North Stars enter play first in the Nutrien Division and second overall in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) standings with a 29-8-3-1 record through 41 games.

Coming off an emotional back-to-back with Flin Flon last weekend, which saw the Stars’ take the SJHL’s top seed to overtime the first night and push to the final horn on the second, the Battlefords will be looking for a quick bounce-back this weekend having still won 10 of their last 12 overall.

The Ice Wolves are fourth in the Sherwood Division and 11^th overall in the league standings with a 14-24-2-1 record through 41 games.

Currently just five points back of the eighth and final playoff spot with 15 games to go, the Ice Wolves have won back-to-back games heading into play, eager to continue making ground on the three teams ahead of them in the race for the final playoff position.

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The North Stars will see a number of lineup changes heading into Friday, as the team will be without recently-named SJHL MVP/Forward of the Month Ben Portner who has been listed as day-to-day following the SJHL/MJHL Showcase.

First-year standouts Brayden Sinclair and Carson Olsen will also be out on a maintenance break following the Showcase, while forward Josh Medernach and defenceman Jordan Grill will each make their return to the lineup following a one-game absence. Blue liner Gavin Granger will also make his return to the lineup having been out since Jan. 13 with a mid-section injury.

In goal, the North Stars will start recently-named SJHL Rookie of the Month Matthew MacArthur who is red-hot heading into his fifth start with the North Stars. MacArthur posted a 3-0-1 record through January along with a 2.71 goals against average and a .926 save percentage.

La Ronge is led into play by winger Mason Bueckert, who paces the team with 45 points (15 goals, 30 assists) in 41 games. Beuckert has at least a single point in eight of his last nine games for the Ice Wolves.

Between the pipes, La Ronge is likely to go with Topher Chirico who has played 33 of the team’s 41 games so far. Chirico is 11-20-1-0 with a 4.04 goals against average and a .904 save percentage this season.

Friday night’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 Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1