Stars forward, Jake Southgate has scored in each of his last two games, and leads the team with seven goals this season. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Looking for third straight

North Stars travel to Melville for first road swing of season

Oct 22, 2021 | 2:00 PM

Coming off back-to-back victories over Melfort and La Ronge respectively, the Battlefords North Stars will return to play Friday in Melville versus the Millionaires, in search of their third-straight win.

Friday’s game will mark the first stop in the team’s inaugural multi-game road trip of the season, which will conclude Saturday night in Yorkton, in a matchup against the Terriers.

The North Stars (7-3-1), enter play Friday second in their division and fourth overall in the league standings, taking on a Melville team with just one win through their first nine games (1-4-4) and hungry to snap a four-game losing skid.

The North Stars are led by a prolific offense four lines deep that has scored a league-best 57 goals through their first 11 games – or just over five (5.18) per contest.

For perspective, Flin Flon is the only other team in the league to have scored more than 47, and the Bombers’ 54 have come in 14 games – a full three more than the Stars have played.

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Even more impressive is the depth of offensive contribution, as a league-high 21 different players have scored at least a single goal for the Battlefords already this year.

The team will need that offensive depth to shine through again Friday, as top-line winger Dace Prymak, who sits fifth in team scoring with five goals and 11 points – and is coming off a hattrick performance last Saturday – will miss the night’s action due to illness.

In his absence, defending SJHL Rookie of the Week, Colby Bear will join Holden Doell and Jake Southgate on the Stars’ first unit; a well-deserved opportunity for the forward, who has scored five goals through his first five games to start his junior career.

On the other top line, reigning SJHL MVP of the Week, Steven Kesslering will again line up to the right of centreman Emmett Wurst, with Zane Florence on the left-wing side. Kesslering leads the Stars with 16 points this season, tied for second overall in the league scoring race.

Dylan Esau, who is coming off his fifth multi-point game of the season Saturday – and now has 14 points over his last seven games – will be joined by Ryland McNinch and Matthew Henry on the third unit.

KT Walters who had two goals, three points of his own versus La Ronge, will suit up next to Tanner Klimpke and rookie Keiton Klein to round out the forwards.

On the backend, Tanner Gold who scored his first career SJHL goal last game, will lineup opposite veteran Sam Witt in a top four role, while Wilson Steele and Riley Little will remain together on the other primary matchup unit.

Easton Rask and Tynan Ewart complete the defence core on a third pair capable of playing each facet of the game.

Between the pipes, goaltender Ulrik Roussel will get the call. Roussel has posted a 7-4-1 record this season, with a 2.91 goals-against average and .908 save percentage.

Friday’s NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will be available on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 6:30 p.m., with puck drop to follow at 7 p.m. Marty Martinson will have the call.

North Stars lineup

Forwards:

J. Southgate, H. Doell, C. Bear

Z. Florence, E. Wurst, S. Kesslering

M. Henry, D. Esau, R. McNinch

KT Walters, T. Klimpke, K. Klein

Defencemen:

W. Steele, R. Little

S. Witt, T. Gold

T. Ewart, E. Rask

Goaltenders:

U. Roussel

M. Harroch

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1