The 1995-96 North Stars held the title of winningest season in franchise history for over two decades, up until the 2016-17 season. (supplied photo/Hockeydb.com)

By Martin Martinson

North Stars brightest

A winning tradition (Part 1): Looking back on the 1995-96 North Stars

Apr 10, 2020 | 2:00 PM

The Battlefords North Stars have had a number of successful seasons throughout their nearly 40-years as a franchise.

This weekend, battlefordsNOW is highlighting the top three winningest seasons by the organization, in a countdown format from number three to number one, beginning with the 1995-96 season.

The 1995-96 season was a memorable one for the North Stars, as the team finished third overall with a 44-17-3 record through the 64-game schedule. The Battlefords’ 91 points were nine back of the first-place Yorkton Terriers, who finished the campaign with 100 on the nose; and just three back of the Melfort Mustangs, who capped their year with 94 points.

Background

Throughout the mid-to-late 90’s the North Stars were in the midst of establishing themselves as a true powerhouse in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), with the 1995-96 season being perhaps the peak of their powers.

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Heading into the fall of 1995, the team was looking to take the next step, after making their first Finals appearance the spring prior, coming off a league-best 86 point performance in ’94-95.

Offense

The 1995-96 team brought a high-flying brand of hockey to the forefront each night at the Civic Centre, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.

The Stars’ 298 goals, (and 4.7 goals per-game) were tops in the league, as the team was led by a dynamic crop of top-end talent, that included the likes of forwards Trevor Ethier, Dmitri Tarabrin and Travis Clayton.

Wreaking havoc on the opposition defence from the right-wing side, Ethier’s 46 goals and 98 points were both a team-best and career-high, while Tarabrin and Clayton also pitched in with 77 and 74 points respectively, over the 64-game schedule.

Defence

In addition to their sparkling offensive totals, nearly as impressive was the North Stars’ ability to keep the puck out of their own goal as well. The team allowed the third-fewest goals-against in the league (201, or 3.1 per-game), proving the old adage true – that the best defence is in fact, a good offense.

On the backend, Estonian blue liner, Dmitri Rodin established himself as a premier weapon in the Saskatchewan League, during his lone season of play in Canada. Rodin registered 16 goals and 57 points in 63 games to lead the Battlefords’ attack from the point position.

Goaltending

Between the pipes, Kendall Sidoruk played the bulk of his team’s games. A veteran at that point, in his second year with the team, Sidoruk posted a 3.18 goals-against average while playing 46 games, or about 72 percent of his team’s contests.

Path through the postseason

The North Stars defeated the Nipawin Hawks in six games in the quarterfinals, before moving on to fall in five to the eventual-champion Mustangs in the semifinals.

While the North Stars’ 1995-96 season may not have concluded with a league-championship, it remains a memorable season for fans and former players alike, who witnessed the shimmering spectacle of the high-flying Stars on a nightly basis.

Part 2 of ‘A winning tradition’ will feature a look at the 2019-20 North Stars and their 45-win, 92-point season; and will be posted Saturday at 2 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1