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North Stars down to 2 goaltenders

Sep 29, 2016 | 10:01 AM

The North Stars had a deal in place to send goaltender Ryan Rewerts to the Valley Wildcats of the Maritime Hockey League, but Rewerts has decided not to report to the Berwick, N.S. team, and will stop playing junior A hockey instead.

The deal initially in place was in exchange for a player development fee, but when Rewerts informed the North Stars he would not report, the team didn’t go through with the trade.

The 20-year-old from Cutknife, Sask., has compiled a 28-18-0-1 career record in 54 games since 2012, but this year he has struggled in three starts, posting a 4.23 goals-against-average and .833 save percentage while failing to register a win.

Rewerts was in a tricky situation to start the year, as 17-year-old Joel Gryzbowski returned to the North Stars from Saskatoon Blades fall camp, and 19-year-old Taryn Kotchorek was also returning after posting superior numbers to Rewerts last season.

“We didn’t expect to get Gryzbowski back from Saskatoon,” Bedford said on the decision to move Rewerts. “The team had a three goalie system at the end of last year that I don’t believe worked … and we thought that Ryan needed a change of scenery because I think he can play junior A hockey and I think he can play at a high level.”

Rewerts chose not to comment on the situation, requesting to keep the matter private.

It’s unclear which goaltender will start the North Stars next game on Saturday Oct. 1, when the team travels to Melfort to take on the Mustangs.

The North Stars beat Melfort 4-0 on Sunday, September 25.

 

Nathan Kanter is battlefordsNOW’s sports reporter and voice of the Battlefords North Stars. He can be reached at Nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca or tweet him @NathanKanter11