Friday night will mark the fourth matchup of the season-series between the North Stars and Red Wings, and first since Nov. 18. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff) : Martin Martinson

By Martin Martinson

Pucks in deep

North Stars soar into matchup with Red Wings

Feb 22, 2019 | 1:15 PM

The Battlefords North Stars return to life on the road Friday, as the team kicks off another three-games in three-nights. Beginning the weekend marathon is a date with the Weyburn Red Wings at Crescent Point Place in Weyburn.

The North Stars enter action Friday 3-0-1 over their last four, and sit third in the Global Ag. Risk Solutions Division, with a 29-13-10 record through 52 games. With 68 points on the campaign, the Battlefords sit just three points back of both Kindersley and Humboldt within the division, as each have 71 points apiece. The Stars do however hold two games in hand on the Broncos.

Weyburn, on the end of things, has struggled as of late. With just one win over their last 10 games, the Wings are 15-31-6 through 52 games, placing them fourth overall in the Viterra Division, and two points back of Melville for the 10^th and final playoff spot.

Weyburn’s blue line this evening will have to contend with one of the hottest lines in the league, as the Battlefords’ top unit featuring MacGregor Sinclair between Owen Lamb and Brayden Buziak, just continues to hum for the Stars, making opposition defences stand up and take note each time the trio steps on the ice.

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Sinclair leads the team in each major scoring stat, ranking ninth in league scoring with 62 points in 51 games. Sinclair’s been on an especially torrent pace as of late, having scored 11 goals over his last 14 games played.

In just seven games since the start of February, Lamb has picked up five goals, 14 points (including five multi-point games), while Buziak, has three goals and 12 points over the span.

On the backend, defenceman Cody Spagrud has also been on an offensive tear as of late, riding a four-game point streak into play, while having amassed two goals, nine points, over his last seven games.

Spagrud enters Friday evening third in goals (10) and fourth in points (39) amongst blue liners in just 50 games. The captain’s offensive production comes in addition to his defensive prowess that will see the two-way horse fed a lot of minutes against top opposition again this weekend, beginning Friday in a matchup with Weyburn’s Ben Hiltz line.

Hiltz is a 19-year-old centreman, who at 6’3″ 183 pounds, is currently in his third year playing for his hometown Red Wings. The Weyburn, Sask. native leads his team in both goals (19) and assists (33), good for 52 points through 52 games played.

Although Weyburn’s offence as a whole ranks tenth in the 12-team league this season, Hiltz is not the only weapon offensively wearing red and white; particularly down the middle of the ice.

Sean Olson (6’3″, 203 pounds) is another pivot with size who can make himself a handful down low on the cycle game. The 20-year-old veteran, Olson, has posted 14 goals, 32 points in 38 games.

It will likely be up to the Stars’ Matthew Fletcher, Seth Summers unit on the backend to counter the second wave of offence when Olson and his linemates step out on the ice.

That being said, as is the case each game on the road, the Battlefords will not hold last change, meaning any set matchups will need to be dictated on the fly.

Between the pipes, recently-turned 19-year-old, Adam Dmyterko will get the start for the North Stars.

For Dmyterko, Friday will mark his fifth start this season, and first since Nov. 10. The former Saskatoon Blazers standout has sported a 2.43 goals-against average and .913 save percentage through his first four appearances with the North Stars this season.

On the Red Wings’ side of things, after back to back starts on Feb. 15 and 16, Ben Laidlaw is expected to get the night off, meaning 18-year-old netminder Cody Levesque should get the start for the home side.

Levesque is 3-12-3 this season, with a 4.45 goals-against average and .885 save percentage.

Fans can catch the North Stars in action on 1050 CJNB beginning with the Ultra-Print Pregame Show at 7:15 p.m. with puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m. on the Napa North Stars Hockey Broadcast.

North Stars lineup at a glance

Forwards:

B. Buziak, M. Sinclair, O. Lamb

Q. Loon-Stewardson, R. Gil, E. Loon-Stewardson

A. Becker, B. Gammer, D. Esau

K. Boser, D. Heino, R. Doig

Defencemen:

N. Form, C. Spagrud

S. Summers, M. Fletcher

T. Scott, R. Granville

Goaltender:

A. Dymterko

–

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1