Captains Ryland McNinch of the North Stars and Kevin Anderson of the Hounds, will likely see a lot of each other at the faceoff dot Saturday, in a prominent head-to-head matchup. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Season series continues

North Stars return to home ice Saturday for rivalry night with Hounds

Dec 4, 2021 | 3:15 PM

The Battlefords North Stars will return to play Saturday night, for their first game in a week – and first on home ice in three-weeks – as they welcome the Notre Dame Hounds to town.

Team Stats

The North Stars have had the Hounds’ number through what has been a tightly-contested season series so far this year. The Stars are 4-0 against their divisional foe, though three of those four games have required extra time, with two wins coming in overtime, and another in the shootout.

The Stars enter play having won seven of their last eight games, looking to bounce back quickly from a tough 4-3 loss to Weyburn, to wrap their road swing last weekend.

Nearing the midway mark in the season schedule, the Stars are 17-6-3 through 26 games this year. Their 37 points are second in the Global Ag. Risk Solutions Division and third overall in the league standings, just five back of second-place Estevan, while holding a game in-hand.

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Notre Dame are third in the division and sixth overall, with 27 points, thanks to a 12-9-3 record through 24 games. The Hounds will also be hungry to bounce back on the winning track, having dropped two-straight, including a 3-1 loss to Kindersley last night.

Players to watch

North Stars forward, Steven Kesslering was named SJHL Forward of the Week for his performance on the team’s road swing, that featured three goals, over the three games. Kesslering has also been especially hot against the Hounds this season, scoring six of his team-leading twelve goals against the team.

Jake Southgate and K.T. Walters are also two players to keep an eye on Saturday. Southgate is also tied for the team lead with 12 goals, after scoring in his last game, while he leads the team with 27 points this year.

Walters is coming off a two-goal game against Weyburn last weekend, and sits just back of the Battlefords’ high water mark in goals, with 10 on the campaign.

Notre Dame are led by their captain, Kevin Anderson, who took home SJHL MVP of the Month distinction, after leading all players with 10 goals through the month of November. Anderson currently sits fourth in the league standings with 36 points this year.

Anderson, along with linemates Elliot Dutil, who has 20 goals through 24 games, and Connor Nolan (seven goals, 28 points) have combined for 39 of the Hounds total 82 goals this season; or 47.5 percent of the team’s total offense.

Special teams

Discipline will be a key point of emphasis for both sides heading into Saturday’s game, as the North Stars and Hounds lay claim to the two top-ranked power plays in the league.

The Stars have converted on a league-best 24.1 percent of their power plays this season, and have been especially hot of late, converting on 10 of their last 17, over their last five games.

Notre Dame rank second, clicking at 23.9 percent, having scored five power play goals of their own, over their last five outings.

The Hounds do hold the edge on the penalty kill, sitting fourth at just under 84 percent, while the Stars are ninth, at just over 77 percent.

Goaltending

Lowen Kenyon will make his second straight start for the North Stars Saturday, and third this year with the team. Through his first two games, the 17-year-old is 1-0-1 with a 2.43 goals-against average and .926 save percentage.

Notre Dame are likely to return to Austin Elliott between the pipes, after giving him the night off last night. Elliott has played 14 of his team’s 24 games, with a 3.11 goals-against average and .904 save percentage this year.

Saturday’s NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will be available on 1050 CJNB. 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:

M. Henry, D. Esau, S. Kesslering

J. Southgate, H. Doell, Z. Florence

K.T. Walters, R. McNinch, C. Bear

E. Wurst, B. Blake, E. Scriven

Defencemen:

E. Rask, R. Little

S. Witt, T. Gold

T. Ewart, J. Grill

Goaltenders:

L. Kenyon

M. Harroch

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1