Sign up for the battlefordsNOW newsletter
The Battlefords North Stars will look to keep their hot streak on the road alive Saturday, as the team will travel to Nipawin for the first time this season. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)
Back at it

North Stars tangle with Hawks in Nipawin for part two of weekend showdown

Oct 19, 2019 | 2:00 PM

Like any classic heavyweight bout, the Battlefords North Stars and Nipawin Hawks will battle it out for a round-two Saturday night.

The two teams faced off for the first time in the season-series Friday night at the Civic Centre. Pegged as the league’s top offense (the Stars) against the top defence (the Hawks), the game delivered in both intensity and dramatics right to the final horn.

The Stars ultimately came back from down two goals to win 3-2 in front of the Battlefords’ crowd at the Civic Centre.

Saturday the Stars will look to repeat the outcome as the scene will shift to Centennial Area, or ‘The Cage’ as it’s known, in Nipawin.

The North Stars enter play with a league-best, 14-1 record. Perhaps most impressive, the team has played an incredible 11 of their 15 games away from the Civic Centre.

Finding great if not unprecedented success on the road through the first quarter of the season, the Stars prowess in opponent’s rinks has helped the team build a seven-point cushion over second-place in the standings this year.

The Battlefords will need to bring their best Saturday, however, if the streak is to continue.

While Nipawin are a solid 9-4 on the year, the team is especially dominant on home ice. Entering the weekend, the Hawks have posted a perfect 5-0 record at home through the early part of the schedule.

The North Stars will gain a significant boost up front Saturday, as forward Elijah Loon-Stewardson will return to the lineup for the black and silver after serving a one-game suspension.

Loon-Stewardson, who has picked up 15 points through 14 games this season, will slide back into his usual spot in the rotation, on the top line along with Quintin Loon-Stewardson and Matthias Urbanski.

Together the three have been nothing short of dynamic this season, having posted a combined 47 points through the Stars’ first 15 games.

The trio serve as one of what are essentially two top lines for the Stars this season.

Austin Becker, Brett Gammer and Rylan Nivon serve as the other.

Becker and Nivon sit first and second in team scoring this season with 21 and 17 points, respectively.

Gammer, who joined the duo just a couple of games ago, has fit in seamlessly at the pivot position, as the forward is coming off a two-point performance just one night ago to help lead the Stars to victory.

At the other end, likely Nipawin’s most dangerous player offensively Friday was 19-year-old Austen Flaman.

Now in his third season with the team, Flaman has improved his point totals each year, and led the Hawks in scoring last season with 44 points in 58 games played. He has 10 points in 12 games this year, and is coming off a goal performance last night against the Stars.

Between the pipes, shooters on either side are likely to see a new face tending goal this time around, from just 24 hours ago.

The North Stars will hand the reigns to recently-turned 19-year-old, Parker Rey, Saturday.

A rookie in the SJHL this season, Rey has been lights-out for the team through his first three starts, having posted a 2-1 record, along with a 2.34 goals-against average and .913 save percentage.

At the other end, the Hawks are likely to draw on fellow rookie standout, Rosss Hawryluk. The 18-year-old, Hawryluk enters play with a 4-1 record, to go along with a 1.56 goals-against average and .952 save percentage.

Shooters on each side may be wondering where the net is behind the pair of goalies Saturday, as both Rey and Hawryluk each command the crease area, standing 6’4.

The two are likely to ensure what should be another tight game to the finish between the two teams Saturday evening.

Saturday’s game will be broadcast on 1050 CJNB-CJNS. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7:15 p.m. with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. on NAPA North Stars Hockey.

North Stars lineup

Forwards:

M. Urbanski (A), Q. Loon-Stewardson, E. Loon-Stewardson (A)

A. Becker, B. Gammer, R. Nivon

K. Boser, S. Kesslering, D. Esau

C. Reagan, R. McNinch, L. Spence

Defencemen:

N. Form, D. McCabe

S. Summers (A), M. Fletcher (C)

L. Antoniuk, J. Gagnon

Goaltenders:

P. Rey

A. Dmyterko

View Comments