By Nathan Kanter

North Stars golf tournament signals season right around corner

Aug 19, 2017 | 11:00 AM

With plenty of turnover this season on the Battlefords North Stars roster, it’s safe to say training camp at the end of August will be interesting, with plenty of new faces in the mix.

Friday night’s annual golf tournament at Jackfish Lodge and Conference Centre signalled camp – and the season – is very much on the horizon. Fitness testing is set for Aug. 30, and the pre-season begins Sept. 3.

While returning players who attended the tournament expressed their excitement for the start of a new year, perhaps nobody is raring to go as badly as newly named head coach and general manager Brandon Heck.

“To be honest, my excitement level is a 10 out of 10, even before today,” Heck said. “It definitely helps seeing the guys and all the community support too… and the board members, meeting a lot of them for the first time brings the excitement, but it’s just tough to top my excitement level.”

The teams played a four-man scramble, and Heck’s team shot 22-under par. That was close to the top spot, but not quite close enough as the Northland Power group claimed top honours with a score of 25-under.

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When asked what he thought of his golf game, Heck said it was just alright.

“The guys in my group thought it was good but I didn’t hit the ball as straight as I would like to today,” he said. “It was fun anyway.”

Returning players who hit the links Friday included Troy Gerein, Taryn Kotchorek, Levi Kleiboer, and Connor Manegre, while newly acquired local Josh Sielsky, from Maidstone, also took part. 

Graduating players Reed Delainey, who is attending Rochester Institute of Technology this fall, and Logan Nachtegaele, who is attending the University of Victoria, joined in as well. Returning North Stars winger Owen Lamb attended the evening portion but did not golf.

Though team numbers were down somewhat over last years event, North Stars marketing manager Caitlyn Gray said the fundraiser was certainly a success.

“We had tons of sponsorship again this year. Similar ones to last year but we also had new ones hop on this year, so that was really good,” Gray said.  “I think it went over really well and Jackfish is always a really good host for this tournament. All of our fundraisers are extremely important and…we’ll definitely be back.”

nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @NathanKanter11