The North Stars solidified their center ice position over the weekend, landing veterans Ben Hiltz and Jaxon Steele. Together the pair add to a North Stars’ attack that has been among the league’s most lethal throughout the season. (supplied photos/SJHL.ca, WHL.ca)

By Martin Martinson

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Stars land Hiltz, Steele in blockbuster weekend

Dec 2, 2019 | 2:57 PM

Just passed the midway mark of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season, the Battlefords North Stars have already all but solidified a season for the books.

The Stars are 26-3 on the year through their opening 29 games, sitting nine points up on second place in the league and a staggering 17 ahead of second in their division.

While the team may be rolling, however, that didn’t stop the Stars’ brass from adding an extra shot in the arm to the group.

It was a busy weekend for North Stars’ general manager, Brayden Klimosko, as the architect of the defending-champion Stars made some noise thanks to back-to-back blockbuster trades to bolster the team’s roster.

The first move came Saturday, Nov. 30, when the Battlefords dealt forward, Brett Gammer to the Prince George Spruce Kings of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) in exchange for fellow 19-year-old, Jaxon Steele.

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The team then made a follow-up splash Sunday, Dec. 1, when the club acquired Red Wings’ captain, Ben Hiltz for rookie standouts, Dace Prymak, Jordan Gagnon and futures.

Both Hiltz (6-2, 188 lbs.) and Steele (6-2, 170 lbs.) bring size and veteran experience to the fold for the Battlefords, along with the ability to play the middle of the ice.

Hiltz, a bona fide Star in the SJHL, is coming off back-to-back point-per-game seasons with the Wings that have seen the forward collect 50 goals, 113 points in 108 games over his last two full years.

Hiltz should slot seamlessly into the Battlefords’ top six. A threat to score both with power off the offensive cycle game, or speed off the rush, it shouldn’t take long for the Weyburn, Sask., product to bring the fans out of their seats when he does suit up for the black and silver.

Steele, meanwhile, also brings a nice mix of skill and intangibles to the Stars.

While the North Stars will serves as Steele’s first Saskatchewan League stop, the forward does come to the Battlefords with 65 games of prior Major Junior experience under his belt, spent with the Medicine Hat Tigers.

The Calgary, Alta. product has also played 40 games of ‘Junior A’ split evenly between the AJHL’s Calgary Canucks and BCHL’s Spruce Kings.

Together the pair should only help add to the Battlefords’ elite offensive arsenal that has seen the team average nearly 4.3 goals per-game this season.

The two should also provide new vigor to a Stars’ power play that sits eighth in the league, clicking at just-under 16 per cent.

While it remains to be seen exactly when Hiltz and Steele will make their respective debuts with the club, North Stars’ fans will likely not have to wait long. The team will play four games this week to kick-start December.

The North Stars will return to action Tuesday night against Notre Dame in Wilcox. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7:45 p.m. with puck drop at 8 p.m. on NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey on 1050 CJNB.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1