Stars’ forward, Jaxon Steele scored in his season debut last night in La Ronge, and will need to be a key factor again Saturday if his team is to find success against the Ice Wolves. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Seeking Retribution

North Stars look for quick bounce back in La Ronge

Nov 14, 2020 | 2:30 PM

When the Battlefords North Stars return to the ice Saturday night in La Ronge, they can be expected to do so with vigor.

Coming off a 5-3 loss Friday night at the hands of the Ice Wolves, the Stars will head back to into the Wolves’ den with a chance to avenge the defeat, and earn their first win of the season, against that same Ice Wolves’ team.

Assistant coach of the North Stars, Rob Holoien, said following Friday’s game, the team isn’t all that far off from where they need to be to start seeing some tangible results early this year.

“I think we competed hard [Friday], and that’s just the way it goes sometimes,” Holoien said reflecting on his team’s performance. “A couple mistakes cost us the hockey game, but we’re lucky that we play again [Saturday] night, and we can get back out there quick.”

Holoien said the key heading into Saturday will be to continue to build on the progress through their first two games, and play with consistency throughout the night.

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“I think we just need to play a complete 60 [minutes],” he said. “It was a different game [Friday] than the Kindersley game last week. We know we dominated the first half last week, and now we’re just looking for a third period, so hopefully we can string 60 minutes together [Saturday] and get a better result.”

There will not be a lot of changes to the North Stars’ lineup Saturday, as it pertains to personnel, just in terms of how the lineup stacks up.

In the lone change up front, Patrick McInnis will draw in to make his Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League debut, along with defenceman Ethan Hayter, who will also make his league debut, in the only move on the backend.

McInnis, a Hammonds Plains, NS., product, missed the opening two games of the season due to suspension, but will draw in Saturday on a newly-formed ‘young-guns’ line.

Suiting up alongside Tanner Klimpke and K.T. Walters, the three should provide plenty of speed and skill.

Hayter, meanwhile, will line up alongside fellow first-year, Zane Florence on an all-rookie defence-pair that will provide a good first pass, and the ability to join the play.

Beyond the new additions to the lineup, forwards Jaxon Steele and Jake Southgate, who each scored Friday, will be joined on the right side boards by veteran Mason Richey.

Richey should provide some additional versatility and playmaking acumen to the chemistry already budding between the dynamic offensive pair.

On the second line, Steven Kesslering and Connor Gabruch will flank Dylan Esau on a unit build for speed and explosiveness, with the ability to create chances down low or off the rush.

Breydon Berthold will shift to the pivot position on line three, alongside young gun Ty Bahm and second-year standout Ryland McNinch. This unit boasts speed, experience and two-way tenacity, built for all three zones.

On the backend, blue liners Sam Witt and Timon Prexler remain together on the team’s top pairing as the two continue to build on their effortless chemistry.

Wilson Steele will move up to play with Riley Little on the second pair, to form a formidable shutdown tandem.

Austin Schwab will get his second start of the season for the North Stars between the pipes. Schwab made 33 saves in last week’s season-opener versus Kindersley.

Saturday’s game will be broadcast on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7 p.m., with puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m. on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast.

North Stars lineup

Forwards:

J. Southgate, J. Steele, M. Richey

S. Kesslering, D. Esau, C. Gabruch

T. Bahm, B. Berthold, R. McNInch

K.T. Walters, T. Kimpke, P. McInnis

Defencemen:

S. Witt, T. Prexler

W. Steele, R. Little

Z. Florence, E. Hayter

Goaltenders:

A. Schwab

K. Lyon

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1