North Stars travel to La Ronge looking to stay hot against Ice Wolves

The Stars possess the most lethal offense in the league through the opening two weeks of the schedule. The Battlefords have scored a league-high 31 goals through their first five games, for an average of just over six goals-per-game.

Perhaps most worrisome for La Ronge, the North Stars enter the weekend riding the momentum of their biggest offensive explosion yet, a 10-3 thrashing of the Flin Flon Bombers at the League Showcase in Warman.

La Ronge, by contrast, sit 2-5 through their opening seven games. The team has scored 19 goals in seven games, for a 2.71 goals-per-game average, while also allowing 27 goals-against over the span, or just under four goals-against per contest.

While their record and team stat lines may not be nearly as flashy as the Battlefords’, the Ice Wolves have quietly bounced back from a rough 0-5 start to win each of their last two games. Thwarting both Kindersley and the Melville Millionaires in succession at the showcase, La Ronge will enter play on the strength of a two-game winning streak.

Much like the Bombers, who the Stars played Tuesday, the Ice Wolves are a group that rely heavily on their big three up front for a large chunk of their offense.

La Ronge forwards Daylon Mannon (four goals, 10 points), Kyle Ford (four goals, seven points), and Zach Bannister (one goal, five points) sit one-two-three in team scoring.

The trio have combined for nine of the team’s 19 goals this season, or just over 47 per cent of the Wolves’ total goal production.

The Stars’ offensive attack features 10 players who are point-per-game or greater through their opening five contests.

Forwards Austin Becker and Quintin Loon-Stewardson lead the team in goals with six each in five games respectively. Becker and Brett Gammer have set the pace in points with eight apiece.

Because of the relentless if not overwhelming offensive attack of the Stars, La Ronge will likely need to rely heavily on their goaltender to be the difference maker if the team is to find any success on the evening.

Rookie netminders Liam McGarva and Steven Bacovsky form the goaltending duo for the Ice Wolves.

Through three games apiece, the pair have posted nearly identical stats with McGarva carrying a 3.40 goals-against average and .901 save percentage, to Bocovsky’s 3.71 goals-against average and .890 save percentage.

At the other end, the Stars will hand the reigns to a rookie goalie as well.

Soon-to-be 19-year-old Parker Rey will get the start for the Battlefords. Rey put up an excellent showing stopping 19 of the 20 shots he faced in his SJHL debut last Sunday against Weyburn. Rey has posted a 1.00 goals-against average and .950 save percentage in his lone start so far.

The game will be broadcast on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra-Print Pregame Show will begin at 7:15 p.m. with puck drop at 7:30 p.m.

North Stars lineup at a glance

Forwards:

M. Urbanski, Q. Loon-Stewardson, E. Loon-Stewardson

A. Becker, R. McNinch, R. Nivon

K. Boser, B. Gammer, D. Esau

S. Kesslering, D. Prymak, L. Spence

Defencemen:

N. Form, T. Prexler

S. Summers, M. Fletcher

L. Antoniuk, J. Gagnon

Goaltenders:

P. Rey

A. Dmyterko

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

North Stars travel to La Ronge looking to stay hot against Ice Wolves

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