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Ryan Gil, pictured here against La Ronge, followed up a stellar regular season with an additional six points in the playoffs, and four in five games of the Anavet Cup. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)
The next chapter

North Stars’ ‘California Kid’ commits to Arizona university

Jun 13, 2019 | 5:00 PM

Following a Canalta Cup Championship in his final season at the Junior A level, North Stars’ forward Ryan Gil has committed to Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ for the fall of 2019.

After just over a year spent with the North Stars’ organization, Gil said likely the only thing he won’t miss about his time in the Battlefords is the winter cold.

“The cold was definitely the biggest adjustment,” he said with a smile, recounting that when the year started he didn’t have “the right jackets,” suitable for a Saskatchewan winter.

Despite the adjustment to a new climate, Gil proved himself to be an integral part of the North Stars. Right from his first games with the team, it didn’t take long for The California Kid to make an impact.

Gil picked up four points over his four-game stint with the Stars last year in 2017-18. The Torrance, CA product then picked up right where he left off in the fall of 2018. He scored in the opening game of the season, and registered two goals through the team’s first two games.

Other than the championship, Gil said notching his first on opening night at the Civic Centre this year was likely his most memorable moment from the season.

“Definitely the first game, my first goal,” he said. “Even though we were down, looking out at the fans after you score is just an unbelievable feeling.”

Gil finished the 2018-19 season with 19 goals, good for fourth on the Stars this season. The forward’s 39 points were fifth-best on the club.

Ryan Gil (#11) leads teammates Quintin Loon-Stewardson (#22) and Austin Becker (#16) in the goal parade back to the North Stars’ bench, after scoring against Yorkton in the Stars’ semifinal playoff series with the Terriers. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

For Gil, his journey to the Battlefords was a long and winding road.

After beginning the fall of 2017 in New York with the Rochester Monarchs of the NCDC, Gil was brought over to the North Stars for his aforementioned four-game stint before ultimately moving back to the States just prior to Christmas.

He finished the 2017-18 campaign split between Topeka of the NAHL and Long Beach of the WSHL.

Despite perks such as warmer weather and a closer proximity to home elsewhere, Gil said there was something special about playing in the Battlefords that made him excited to return to the community for his 20-year-old season.

“There were a couple of teams that wanted me, but after coming last year I just couldn’t say no [to returning],” he said. “It was a great organization, great ice and great fans. It was the atmosphere that really brought me here.”

Grand Canyon University finished with a 15-14-5 record in 2018-19, and is ranked seventh in the ACHA II West heading into next season.

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1

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