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Calgary Hitmen forwards, Connor Gabruch (left) and Blake Allan (right) will be loaned to the North Stars until mid-December. (WHL.ca)
Stars add shine

North Stars add pair of WHLers ahead of season

Nov 5, 2020 | 2:15 PM

The Battlefords North Stars received a shot in the arm this week, just days ahead of their regular season opener, adding a pair of Western Hockey League (WHL) standouts to their forward contingent.

Forwards, Blake Allan and Connor Gabruch will join the Stars up front until December, on loan from the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen.

Allan, a 19-year-old from Humboldt, Sask., has nearly 130 Major Junior games experience split between the Kootenay Ice, Regina Pats, and Calgary Hitmen. He was selected by the North Stars in the 2016 SJHL Bantam Draft.

Gabruch, a fellow 19-year-old from Saskatoon, has nearly 110 games under his belt with the Spokane Chiefs and Hitmen. Gabruch also holds ties to the local Battlefords’ community, having family in the area.

Head coach of the North Stars Brayden Klimosko, said the moves should provide the team with an added offensive spark, along with some further veteran leadership a young roster can learn from.

“It’s great experience to add some guys that are playing at the higher level and I think its instantly made our practices better,” Klimosko said. “They’ve really been good with our young guys, just letting them ask some questions and showing them what they do on a day-to-day basis too, so it’s been great to have them.”

Klimosko said he was not looking to add a ton of WHL talent, but with both Allan and Gabruch’s ties to the local community, it made the additions a natural fit.

Allan and Gabruch will be eligible to play with the Stars on loan until mid-December. At that point they, along with all other WHL roster players on loan to start the season, will rejoin their Major Junior club in time for when WHL camps open, following the holiday break.

The North Stars will kick off their season with a home-and-home this weekend versus Kindersley. Friday’s season opener will be played at the West Central Events Centre in Kindersley, while Saturday’s game will be held at the NB Civic Centre.

Puck drop both nights will be at 7:30 p.m., with pregame beginning at 7 p.m. on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast on 1050 CJNB.

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1

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