Back Row (L-R): Noah Form, Adam Dmyterko, Dylan Esau, Brett Gammer, Kaden Boser, Tanner Scott, Ryan Granville, Quintin Loon-Stewardson Front Row (L-R): Austin Becker, Seth Summers, Garrett Johnson, Logan Spence

By Martin Martinson

The future is now

Rookie Stars emerge on Battlefords’ run to finals

Apr 10, 2019 | 5:08 PM

The Battlefords North Stars have seen all kinds of contribution from their first-year players in the team’s run this year to the Canalta Cup Final.

Of the team’s 31 goals this post-season, 17 have been scored by first-year players — the highest total in the league.

As a point of reference, Estevan had the second-most goals scored by first-year players, with seven on the playoffs, while six of the 10 teams to make the post-season this year have three goals or fewer from rookies.

Perhaps most impressive about the Stars’ freshmen, has been the consistency with which the young players are producing for the team. The Stars have received at least a single goal from a first-year player in each of the team’s 11 games these playoffs.

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Taking next to no time to adjust to their first playoff action in the SJHL, the Stars’ young guns entered the post-season firing on all cylinders. Two of the team’s three goals in game one’s 3-0 win over the Bombers in the quarter-finals were scored by rookies. Kaden Boser notched the winner, while Quintin Loon-Stewardson also got his name on the board in his first-ever playoff action.

In game two against the Bombers, it was Boser again who stepped up to notch his second — the game-winner in overtime — leading his team to victory on a shot from the top of the left circle.

“I wasn’t really thinking of anything at that moment, Just celebrating and watching everyone come to me was pretty awesome and it’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life, that’s for sure,” Boser said.

After Noah Form lit the lamp in game three from the blue line position, Garrett Johnson followed suit in game four with his first as well.

Loon-Stewardson scored his second in game five, while each of Austin Becker, Seth Summers and Brett Gammer chipped in with their first of their respective careers in game six.

Perhaps the greatest example of the offensive prowess on display from the North Stars’ freshmen came in game seven, when three of the team’s four goals were scored by skaters looking to extend their first-ever playoff run.

Each of Summers and Gammer collected their second in as many nights, while Loon-Stewardson again contributed with a goal as well in the team’s 4-1 victory to move on to the semifinals.

Reflecting back on the series, Gammer said winning that seventh game was likely his most memorable moment from the season.

“It was the first game seven I had ever played in, and it was an amazing feeling taking Flin Flon and just with the boys after the game out on the ice, it was awesome,” Gammer said.

Following a three-point performance in game seven, Loon-Stewardson then scored again in each of the first two games of the semifinals against the Terriers, including notching the first and only goal in game two against Yorkton, potting the 1-0 overtime winner for his team.

“It was quite the experience, it was crazy,” Loon-Stewardson said with a laugh recalling the goal. “The building’s roof popped off. I had no energy to celebrate, so I just went and hugged the boys as soon as possible.”

Game three of the semi’s was once again a 1-0 final for the Stars, with Gammer’s third of the playoffs, scored late in the first period, standing up as the game-winner.

With a chance to close out the Terriers in game four, the rookies once again stepped up to lead the way offensively, with Loon-Stewardson notching his sixth and Gammer, his fourth of the playoffs, en route to a 3-0 victory to clinch a spot in the Canalta Cup Final.

Defensively, the Stars have relied upon all five rookie defencemen on the team throughout the season, with three in the lineup at all times through the post-season so far.

The team’s amped up goal production in particular from the backend cannot be overlooked as a key cog to their success. Each of Seth Summers, Noah Form, and Garrett Johnson, have either equalled or surpassed their regular season goal-totals already.

Blue liner, Ryan Granville said he believes having the community of youth within this year’s group, along with the experienced leadership core to rely on, is what has really helped this team get to where they are now.

“I think with a lot of young guys on the team, [you have] a lot of other guys [who] know what you’re going through too,” Granville said. “Everybody helps each other out, and having the veterans that have been here so many years just stand out for us young guys is just really nice to have.”

The North Stars will return to action Friday for game one of the Canalta Cup Final, as the team welcomes the Melfort Mustangs to town at the Civic Centre.

The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7 p.m. with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. on NAPA North Stars Hockey on 1050 CJNB.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1