(File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)
North Stars Hockey

No cakewalk for North Stars as they take on the Ice Wolves

Oct 16, 2021 | 11:59 AM

After coming off an impressive 4-1 win over the first-place Melfort Mustangs on Wednesday, the Battlefords North Stars will take on the last-place team in the Sherwood Division – the La Ronge Ice Wolves (3-6-1) Saturday night at the Access Communications Centre.

But the matchup will likely not be a walk in the park, even for the North Stars who sit atop the Global Ag Risk Solutions Division with a record of 6-3-1.

The last time these two teams met, the Ice Wolves defeated the North stars 8-3 at the Mel Hegland Uniplex in La Ronge on Sept. 30. Nolan Doell, brother of North Stars scoring phenom Holden Doell, had a four-point night with a goal and three assists.

Nolan Doell is also coming into the game feeling hot after he had a three-goal, four-point night in a 7-6 defeat to the Kindersley Klippers on Friday. The big night vaults him into a tie for second in the SJHL point-scoring race with 15 in 10 games.

On the North Stars’ side, they’ve continued to get production from every line. Colby Bear has only played four games, mostly on the fourth line, but has scored one goal in each of his last three games. Jake Southgate, Steven Kesslering, and Dylan Esau all play on different lines, but are all in the SJHL top 10 in scoring. Southgate and Kesslering both have 13 points, tied for seventh place, while Esau is right behind at 12, tied for 10th.

Bradley Blake has the longest current scoring streak for the North Stars, scoring a goal and four assists in his last five games.

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. Jeff D’Andrea will call for the game in Marty Martinson’s stead.

Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW

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