Stars defenceman, Sam Witt has been a rock on the blue line for the team this season, with seven points through 15 games, while often being matched up against the other team’s best. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Back on the Horse

North Stars look for quick bounce-back in Melfort

Oct 30, 2021 | 3:00 PM

Coming off their first three game slide of the season, the Battlefords North Stars will return to action Saturday in Melfort, looking to right the ship against the Mustangs.

Despite their recent 0-2-1 skid, the Stars enter play Saturday in second place of the Global Ag. Risk Solutions Division and fifth overall in the league standings. The Battlefords’ 8-5-2 record through the first quarter of the season, gives them 18 points on the year.

Across the ice, the team will be playing a Melfort club who sit second in the Sherwood Division and third overall, with a 10-5-1 record through their first 16 games. Melfort are coming off a 7-1 victory over Weyburn Friday, which snapped a three-game losing streak of their own.

Both teams have been clicking along at a similar clip on the power play, with Melfort currently sitting at just over 22 percent, while the Stars are just under 20 percent.

The Mustangs do hold the penalty kill advantage through the early season, with over 85 percent efficiency (third in SJHL), to the North Stars’ nearly 74 percent (12^th).

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With just two goals over their last three games, the North Stars will see a new look on many of their lines Saturday. Each of the team’s top five scorers are divided up amongst the team’s top three lines.

Jake Southgate, who leads the team with 19 points, will be joined by Dace Prymak (12 points) who scored the team’s lone goal Friday, and Ryland McNinch.

The move then allows Holden Doell (13 points) to slide into the middle alongside Zane Florence and KT Walters (12 points), who draws back in, on a second scoring unit.

Dylan Esau (15 points), flanking Steven Kesslering (16 points) and Tanner Klimpke will round out the top nine, on a third line the envy of many across the league.

On the backend, defenceman Owen Lugowski will draw in for his first game of the season, after starting the year sidelined with an upper body injury. The 6’3 Airdrie, AB., product will suit up alongside Sam Witt within the team’s top four.

The Mustangs are led by Ben Tkachuk (17 points) and Carter Anderson (14 points), while Curtis Hammond and Seth McCulloch (12 points each) and Marco Lopez (11 points) round out their top five scorers.

Goaltender Michael Harroch will get his second straight start for the Battlefords, after stopping 30 of 36 against Humboldt, Friday. Melfort is likely to give the start to Joel Favreau, after the 19-year-old was given the night off Friday.

Saturday’s NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will be available on 93.3 The Rock. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7 p.m., with puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

North Stars lineup

Forwards:

J. Southgate, D. Prymak, R. McNinch

K.T. Walters, H. Doell, Z. Florence

T. Klimpke, D. Esau, S. Kesslering

E. Scriven, B. Blake, K. Klein

Defencemen:

T. Gold, R. Little

S. Witt, O. Lugowski

T. Ewart, E. Rask

Goaltenders:

M. Harroch

U. Roussel

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1