The 2018-19 season saw the North Stars top the Global Ag. Risk Solutions Division on their way to the league championship. With a returning brass, the organization will begin its quest for a repeat in just-under two months' time. (Facebook/North Stars)

By Martin Martinson

North Stars' brightest

North Stars extend staff for additional two seasons

Jul 16, 2019 | 2:21 PM

The Battlefords North Stars’ brass is sticking together.

The Stars have extended a number of core staff for the next two years, including Assistant Coach Rob Holoien; Head Scout and Assistant General Manager Wylie Riendeau; Athletic Therapist, Andrew Kutnikoff; and Goalie Coach Travis Harrington.

The announcement comes after Head Coach and General Manager Brayden Klimosko was extended for two more years back in early March, just days after the team clinched top spot in the Global Ag. Risk Solutions Division on the final night of the regular season.

Sixteen games later, the team won the Canalta Cup. Klimosko said keeping the team staff together helps establish consistency within the organization, contributing to a winning culture around the franchise.

“I’m super excited to have everyone back for another two years,” Klimosko said. “With the turnover this team has had in the past few years in a number of jobs for the club, it’s nice to have Rob, Andrew, Travis, Wylie, Jennifer and myself here for another two [years]. To have a successful team you need strong staff members, and that’s what we have with the Stars.”

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The longest-serving members of the Stars’ staff, Riendeau and Harrington have been with the team for six and five years, respectively.

Riendeau, who has been a scout with the North Stars’ organization since the 2013-14 season, saw his role with the team evolve over the last couple of years, including being elevated to head scout and assistant general manager the last two seasons.

Harrington meanwhile, who runs Mined the Net Goaltending, a hockey school he developed, first got involved with the North Stars organization in the 2014-15 season, giving him five-years’ experience with the club heading into the fall.

The pair have seen plenty of personnel changes within the organization throughout their time with the team, moving from Kevin Hasselberg, to Nate Bedford, to Brandon Heck, and most recently Klimosko at the head coaching position. Over the last four years, the organization claimed two league championships and four division titles.

Kutnikoff and Holoien are coming off their debut seasons with the team.

Kutnikoff, who began his career as a student athletic therapist with the Selkirk Steelers for two seasons from 2016 to 2018, said he’s looking forward to another two years ahead with his fellow returning staff in the Battlefords.

“It’s definitely nice to have some stability,” Kutnikoff said. “I know they’ve gone through a few coaches and therapists the last four or five years, so keeping everyone together just builds that teamwork and you can structure and plan year-to-year a bit better rather instead of trying to scramble at the last minute.”

Rob Holoien, who joined the team midway through the 2018-19 campaign, said the opportunity to return to the team was an easy decision.

”I am very grateful for the opportunity to work alongside our first-class staff and organization,” Holoien said. “I can’t help but be eager to relocate to the Battlefords to be a part of this hockey family and community for years to come. I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish on and off the ice as a team last year, and with a new hockey season fast approaching. I’m excited to see what it has in store.”

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1