Dylan Esau (#28) enters play Wednesday with 12 points over his last five games. He and his Stars' teammates will need to be at their best versus a stingy Melfort defence. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Stars back in action

North Stars look for swift bounce back versus top-seeded Mustangs

Oct 13, 2021 | 2:18 PM

The Batttlefords North Stars (5-3-1) will return to play Wednesday evening, looking to snap a two-game losing skid versus the top-seeded Mustangs (7-1-1), at Melfort’s Northern Lights Palace.

The night’s contest will serve as the first matchup of the season between the Stars and Mustangs, pitting the league’s top offense (Battlefords) and top defence (Melfort) against one another.

The Stars have scored just under five goals per-game through their opening nine, while Melfort have allowed the fewest goals-against average, limiting their opposition to just over two goals-against per contest.

Leading the way offensively for the Battlefords, will be Dylan Esau, who finished runner up for SJHL Forward of the Week honours last week. Esau, who is coming off a three-point night versus Humboldt on Saturday, has picked up 12 points total over his last five games.

Esau’s linemate, Matthew Henry, and fellow first years Easton Johns and Colby Bear, should also be flush with confidence after scoring their first career goals over the weekend.

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Henry scored his first career SJHL goal Saturday — just a night after Johns’ — while Bear lit the lamp both Friday and Saturday versus the Broncos.

Jake Southgate (12 points), Steven Kesslering (11 points), Dace Prymak (nine points) and Ryland McNinch and KT Walters (tied with eight points apiece), round out the top five team scorers, spread equally throughout the top three lines.

Melfort, meanwhile, can counter the Stars’ attack with one of the top goaltending duos through the early going, Joel Favreau and Steven Bacovsky.

Favreau, who finished runner-up for SJHL Goaltender of the Week, is 5-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average (GAA) and .919 save percentage. Bacovsky is 2-1-1, coming off his first shutout of the season, with a 1.97 GAA, and .930 save percentage.

Up front Melfort also boast some scoring power of their own, with SJHL Forward of the Week, Carter Anderson (10 points) and runner up for Player of the Week, Ben Tkachuk who leads the team with 11 points.

In goal for the North Stars, Ulrik Roussel will get the nod for his fifth start of the season. The 19-year-old Mont-Tremblant, Que., product has a 3.39 goals-against average and .891 save percentage to start the year.

Wednesday’s game will be available on 1050 CJNB. The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will begin with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7:15 p.m., with puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m. Clark Stork will have the call.

North Stars Lineup

Forwards:

J. Southgate, H. Doell, D. Prymak

M. Henry, D. Esau, R. McNinch

KT Walters, E. Wurst, S. Kesslering

B. Blake, C. Bear, K. Klein

Defencemen:

S. Witt, T. Gold

E. Johns, R. Little

E. Rask, T. Ewart

Goaltenders

U. Roussel

C. Beson

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1