North Stars 20-year-olds reflect on end of season, junior career (Pt. 1)

With the abrupt conclusion to the 2020-21 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season, the Battlefords North Stars must say goodbye to another class of 20-year-olds.

Six players from this season’s roster will graduate from the junior hockey ranks, taking with them a host of memories and cherished moments that will last a lifetime.

#12 Logan Spence

One of only two holdovers remaining from the North Stars’ 2019 roster that took home the league championship, forward Logan Spence provided the team with grit and swagger over parts of five seasons with the black and silver.

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A Battlefords product, who made his debut with his hometown team back in 2017, Spence’s energy provided a consistent spark for the Stars, with his team-high 186 penalty minutes during the 2019-20 season exemplary of his gamesmanship and competitive nature.

Spence finishes his junior career with 11 points in 66 SJHL games, all spent wearing the North Stars’ crest. Spence has committed to Portage College of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) for the fall of 2021.

#14 Mason Richey

Forward Mason Richey began his Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) career playing parts of three seasons with the West Kelowna Warriors of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL).

Acquired by the North Stars during the summer of 2020 to add veteran leadership, skill, and versatility to the lineup, the Terrance, B.C., product wasted no time picking up his first career SJHL goal, scoring in just his third game with the team.

Richey finishes his junior career with 15 points in 64 CJHL games, split between the West Kelowna Warriors of the BCHL and North Stars of the SJHL.

In late January Richey committed to Marian University in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. There he picked up 14 points in 18 games with the team, to help lead them to a Harris Cup league championship.

#19 Jaxon Steele

A product of Calgary, Alta., Jaxon Steele entered the 2020-21 campaign as the North Stars’ leading scorer amongst returning players, and a focal point of the team’s offense.

Steele put up 25 points in 24 games at the wing position after being acquired by the team midway through the 2019-20 season. This year, shifting from wing to his natural center position, the veteran looked poised for another big season as a multi-faceted two-way threat.

Steele finishes his junior career with 54 points in 66 career CJHL games, split between the Calgary Canucks of the AJHL, the Prince George Spruce Kings of the BCHL, and the North Stars of the SJHL. Steele also suited up for 65 career Western Hockey League (WHL) games.

Jaxon was joined by his brother Wilson Steele on the Stars this season. To read their story, click here.

This is Part 1/2 of a series on battlefordsNOW, reflecting on the junior hockey careers of the six North Stars’ 20-year-olds. Part 2/2 is available here, and features video reflection from forward Breydon Berthold, defenceman Timon Prexler, and goaltender Kristian Lyon.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1