Forwards, Matthias Urbanski (#12) and Quintin Loon-Stewardson (#22) have been among the hottest Stars of late. Urbanski is coming off a hat trick performance Friday, while Loon-Stewardson has scored in three straight heading into Saturday night. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

back to business

North Stars play host to Millionaires, in search of sixth straight

Jan 25, 2020 | 2:01 PM

Following a 6-2 thrashing of the Melfort Mustangs Friday night, the Battlefords North Stars will return to action at the Civic Centre Saturday, as the team will play host to the Melville Millionaires.

The North Stars enter play in top spot of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) standings. With a 37-7-2 record on the year, the club’s 76 points are 17-up on second place, and a staggering 44 points ahead of Melville, who sit 12^th overall in the 12-team league.

Despite the point gap, the North Stars know the Millionaires will be hungry to bring their best in a measuring-stick game.

Saturday’s showdown will be just the third meeting of the season-series between the two sides, but the second in the last 10 days. The Stars took home a convincing 5-0 win Jan. 15 in Melville.

If the Millionaires are to find success Saturday night, they will need to stay out of the penalty box, as the Battlefords’ power play has been a force as of late.

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The North Stars have scored at least a single power play goal in each of their last eight games, and are coming off a perfect 4-for-4 outing on the man advantage Friday night, against Melfort.

Matthias Urbanski, who cashed in for two power play goals, en route to a hat trick performance Friday, leads the Stars’ attack into action Saturday night.

With now 20 goals, 46 points this season, Urbanski sits second on the Stars in each of the two offensive categories, trailing only Quintin Loon-Stewardson’s 26 goals, 50 points.

Loon-Stewardson has also been hot of late, having picked up goals in three straight, with five points over the streak.

The Battlefords will need their stars to stay hot, as the team continues to deal will injury woes.

Forwards, Jaxon Steele and Steven Kesslering will join Rylan Nivon and goaltender, Adam Dmyterko on the sidelines, due to upper body injuries sustained Friday.

Short a roster forward, the Stars have called up affiliated player (AP), Caelan Fitzpatrick.

At just 16-years-of-age, Fitzpatrick has been a force this season with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Saskatchewan Midget Hockey League (SMHL). The Moose Jaw product has picked up 14 goals, 41 points through 37 games this season.

Despite the injuries, the Stars’ depth of offensive firepower means Melville will still need an excellent performance from their netminder, for the team to hope to find success.

Luckily for the Millionaires, goalie Berk Berkeliev has been amongst the best at his position this season. Berkeliev’s 2.58 goals-against average and .932 save percentage have been amongst the brightest storylines for the team this season.

For the Stars, after receiving runner-up status for the league’s Goaltender of the Week honours last week, Austin Schwab will get the call Saturday.

Schwab has been amongst the brightest of the league’s rookie class this season, posting a 2.46 goals-against average and .919 save percentage through his opening 13 games this year.

Saturday’s game will be broadcast on 1050 CJNB. The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will begin with pregame at 7:15 p.m. and puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca
On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1