Stars’ forward Matthias Urbanski, pictured here on the faceoff against the Klippers’ Kyle Bosch, will be a key piece of the North Stars’ offensive attack again this season. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

A new season begins

North Stars kick things off with a bang, open season vs. rival Klippers

Sep 13, 2019 | 12:48 PM

Just under 150 days since they first hoisted the Canalta Cup as 2019 league champions, the Battlefords North Stars return to the ice tonight for game one of the new season.

Kicking off the fresh campaign in style, the team will travel to Kindersley to take on the division-rival Kindersley Klippers at West Central Events Centre.

This will mark the eighth straight year the Stars and Klippers have opened their respective seasons facing off with a home-and-home set.

The tradition dates back to the 2012-13 season. Perhaps adding additional importance to Friday’s opener, the team that has won the first game of the home-and-home set during that time has gone on to win the second game as well in each of the last six years.

The North Stars and Klippers battled it out amongst the top of the Global Ag. Risk Solutions Division all season long last year. The division-title was ultimately decided on the final night of the regular season, a game the Stars won in overtime.

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The Battlefords posted a 4-3-2 record against Kindersley last season.

Twelve players from last year’s championship team have returned to the Stars this season. For Kindersley, the team will have 10 returnees this year.

Up front, North Stars’ alternate captain, Matthias Urbanski enters opening night as the highest-scoring returning player from last season’s club. Urbanski had 39 points in 44 games with the team last year.

Forwards Elijah Loon-Stewardson (38 points), Brett Gammer (34), and Quintin Loon-Stewardson (28) and defenceman Matthew Fletcher (25) round-out the top five.

Introducing the opening night roster

Last season’s playoff hero, Quintin Loon-Stewardson will center the top unit for the Stars Friday. Quintin will be joined by his brother Elijah Loon-Stewardson on the right, and Kaden Boser on the left.

Boser, who turns 19 on Friday will look to make the most of his opportunity alongside the Loon-Stewardson connection. Boser brings a heavy shot and brash physicality to compliment the brothers’ keen offensive creativity and grit around the net front.

Line two will feature sophomore Austin Becker on the left, joined by rookies Ryland McNinch and Rylan Nivon.

Becker, who is from Amery, WI, is known as the Wisconsin Wonder for his ability to create scoring chances out of thin air for his linemates. That skill is a quality that should bode well for both McNinch and Nivon.

McNinch, ranked up 21 goals and 41 points last season in Midget AAA with the Beardy’s Blackhawks. Nivon, meanwhile, is a 20-year-old who comes to the Stars with over 100 games of Canadian Junior Hockey League experience under his belt.

Urbanski will play the middle on line three, in a unit that begins to really highlight the team’s depth of skill this season.

Urbanski, from Oliver, B.C., will be flanked by fellow B.C. boy, Dace Prymak (Invermere, B.C.) and versatile forward, Carson Reagan.

Prymak scored 38 points in 48 games as a 17-year-old in the Kootenay International Hockey League (KIJHL) last season with Columbia Valley. Reagan meanwhile, put up 22 points in 33 games his final year of Midget AAA with the Sherwood Park Kings.

The ‘fourth line,’ Friday will see Gammer, who finished fifth amongst rookie scorers in the league last year take to the pivot position.

Gammer will be joined by fellow second-year Dylan Esau of the left, and youngster Steven Kesslering on the right wing.

Kesslering is the youngest player on the North Stars’ roster this season. As the lone 17-year-old on the team, Kesslering will look to replicate the success of his linemate, Esau who stuck with the Stars last year as the team’s lone under-ager.

On the back end, the Stars once again boast a wealth of talent throughout the blue line ranks.

Noah Form, who established himself as a premier defender in the league last season, will be joined by newcomer Dylan McCabe on the top pair.

McCabe is a 20-year-old who was acquired in mid-July by the Stars. McCabe put up 14 points In 22 games with the Weyburn Red Wings last season, prior to being traded to Drumheller of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, where he would finish the season.

On pair two, Seth Summers and Matthew Fletcher will reunite.

A dynamic duo on the back end, the newly-minted captain, Fletcher and alternate captain, Summers provide the team with stability and pre-established chemistry. This unit will be counted on throughout the season to front tough matchup assignments.

Rookies Liam Antoniuk and Timon Prexler will combine to form the third defence-pairing tonight.

Prexler joins the Stars after picking up 33 points in 30 games with Bellingham of the Western States Hockey League last season. Antoniuk, meanwhile, served as captain of his hometown Sherwood Park Kings AAA team last year.

Between the pipes, goaltender Adam Dmyterko will begin his journey as starting goalie of the team.

In five games with the Stars last season, Dmyterko registered three wins while posting a 2.13 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in the process.

Backing up Dmyterko will be 18-year-old Parker Rey. Rey is a 6-4 18-year-old heading into his first season of Junior hockey in Canada.

North Stars’ lineup at a glance

Forwards:

Kaden Boser, Quintin Loon-Stewardson, Elijah Loon-Stewardson

Austin Becker, Ryland McNinch, Rylan Nivon

Carson Reagan, Matthias Urbanski, Dace Prymak

Dylan Esau, Brett Gammer, Steven Kesslering

Defencemen:

Noah Form, Dylan McCabe

Seth Summers, Matthew Fletcher

Liam Antoniuk, Timon Prexler

Goaltenders:

Adam Dmyterko

Parker Rey

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1