Stars’ forward, Matthias Urbanski is coming off a three-point effort Saturday against Weyburn and has scored five points over his last two games heading into Wednesday. The 20-year-old has collected 12 goals, 28 points in 24 games this year. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

To the dogpound

North Stars tangle with Terriers in showdown in Yorkton

Nov 27, 2019 | 2:00 PM

The Battlefords North Stars return to action Wednesday night, as the team will embark on a three-games in three-nights road swing to cap off the workweek. The road trip will begin with a showdown with the Yorkton Terriers at Farrell Agencies Arena in Yorkton.

The Stars enter action having won 17 of their last 18 games, with a league-best 24-2 record on the year. Each of the club’s two losses have come at the hands of the Terriers, meaning the Battlefords will be hungry to exact some revenge after posting a 1-2 record through the season-series thus far.

Yorkton, who are 16-12-1 on the year, sit first in the Viterra Division and fifth overall with a 6-3-1 record over their last 10 games.

The North Stars (117 goals) and Terriers (96 goals) rank first and fifth respectively in league scoring.

The Terriers are led up front by their captain, Chantz Petruic, who paces the league with 29 goals and 56 points through just 29 games.

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A true offensive dynamo, perhaps most impressive about Petruic’s offensive display this season has been the gap the forward has built between himself and his teammates as the season has progressed.

Petruic’s 56 points are a staggering 24 more than his next closest teammate (Jordan Guiney, who has respectable 32 points in his own right). In fact, Yorkton’ second and third leading scorers – Guiney and forward, Alec Zawatsky combined – have scored 55 points, still one less than Petruic alone.

Stars’ forward, Steven Kesslering (#24), pictured here tying up with Terriers’ captain, Chantz Petruic (#11). Petruic picked up six points in the last meeting of the season-series and now has seven goals, twelve points against the Battlefords in three games this season. The team will need to be aware of him at all times Wednesday. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

The Stars, by contrast, lead the league in goals this year despite not having a single top-five scorer on the roster.

What the team does have however, is a deep and dominant offensive attack that features eight 20-plus point-scorers including three with better than 30 points on the year. Rylan Nivon leads the team with 32 points, while Quintin Loon-Stewardson and Austin Becker sit tied for second with 31 points apiece.

On the back end, additional offensive spark is generated through quick transitional play and game-breaking two-way ability.

Stars’ captain Matthew Fletcher leads all defencemen with 27 points this year, while his partner on the top pair, Seth Summers sits third with 22.

Noah Form with 18 points and Dylan McCabe with 12 in 22 games, round out the top four, while first-year standouts, Liam Antoniuk and Walter Somers will bring additional spark to unit three Wednesday.

In net, Parker Rey will get the start Wednesday. Rey has been a rock for the Stars since day one, entering play with a 6-1 record to go along with a minute 1.86 goals-against average and .931 save percentage.

At the other end, Terriers’ goalie, Ryan Ouellette is likely to get the nod for Yorkton. The soon-to-be 19-year-old, Oullette has won eight of his ten games this season, posting a league-best, 1.88 goals-against average and .951 save percentage in the process.

Wednesday night’s 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. on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast.

North Stars lineup

Forwards:

R. Nivon, Q. Loon-Stewardson, E. Loon-Stewardson

A. Becker, D. Prymak, M. Urbanski

K. Boser, B. Gammer, D. Esau

C. Reagan, R. McNinch, L. Spence

Defencemen:

S. Summers, M. Fletcher

N. Form, D. McCabe

L. Antoniuk, W. Somers

Goaltenders:

P. Rey

A. Schwab

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1