By Nathan Kanter

Coby Downs’ return gives North Stars a huge boost

Oct 11, 2016 | 10:11 AM

After playing five games for the Omaha Lancers of the USHL, former North Stars forward Coby Downs has decided to return to his old team North of the border for the 2016-17 season.

“I just felt like it was the right decision for me personally,” Downs said. “The team we have here is very capable of winning a championship, I think. I actually have been thinking about the decision for a while but it came down to [Saturday] night where I just called my mom and we just made the final call on what to do.”

Last season, the California native finished second in SJHL league scoring among rookies with 73 points – only behind teammate Layne Young – and was third in North Stars scoring behind Igor Leonenko and Young.

But Downs doesn’t just provide offence, according to North Stars head coach Nate Bedford.

“He plays power play, penalty kill and obviously even strength so you can kind of put him in any area. When you get a 20-year-old that can play in all areas, I think you’re getting a real good player,” Bedford said. “He and [Layne] Young are very familiar with each other so we’ll look to reunite those two and he’ll provide some more leadership, which is also good.”

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Downs said he and Young have talked every day since last season and that Young was the one who ultimately convinced him to return to the Battlefords.

“Layne and I stayed good friends and… he would always talk about me coming back,” Downs said. “I think Young and I [will] be the deadliest duo in the league by far, just [based on] how last year went.”

Downs only recorded one point in five games for the Lancers this season, along with eight shots on goal and four penalty minutes. He played as recently as Saturday night against the Tri-City Storm, when the team lost 3-2 but only managed 12 shots on goal all game.

The team has a 2-4-0 record, last in the Western Conference.

“He’s a kid that likes to play in all situations and I don’t think he was doing that. He likes to be on the ice a lot,” Bedford said. “He had nothing but good things to say about Omaha. I think it just came down to the fact that he’s 20 years old and wants to play more minutes.”

Downs has aspirations to get an NCAA division I scholarship and that wasn’t going to happen without getting the ice time.

Now, he’ll get the opportunity on the ice, which makes the North Stars that much more dangerous.

“I’m excited for this year,” Downs said. “I think it’s championship or bust for us this year. I don’t see anything other than a championship being acceptable.”

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