The Battlefords North Stars will have a young returning core looking for big things in 2021-22. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

SJHL returns

North Stars returnees looking forward to September following season start date announcement

Jun 8, 2021 | 4:00 PM

Following Tuesday’s announcement from the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) that the 2021-22 season will begin Sept. 24, Battlefords North Stars players are already hungry to get back on the ice for the season ahead.

North Stars forward, Dylan Esau, who will be the longest-tenured Stars player this fall and the lone holdover remaining from the team’s 2019 championship club, said Tuesday’s announcement is certainly reason to be optimistic looking forward to the 2021-22 campaign.

“It’s definitely pretty encouraging to hear that the SJHL is taking a step in the right direction and giving some optimism for the players and for the fans that hockey in Saskatchewan should be coming back in the fall,” Esau said.

“It’s been a disappointing last year and a bit obviously, having the playoffs cut short two years ago now and then missing out on the whole season last year, so I think we’re all just kind of anxious to get back on the ice to compete again.”

Defenceman Wilson Steele is heading into his second fall with the team and first full season after the Stars were held to just three games last year. Just getting that brief ‘cup of coffee’ with the club last year gave the group a chance to come together and bond, he said, and it is something that should only help them hit the ground running this year with a number of returning players.

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“We were able to bond a bit last year and get to know each other, and with such a large group of us coming back from last year, I’m really excited to get started again this year with my teammates for a full season,” Steele said.

“We have a really good team and we’ve all been on the ice together and know what to expect as a group now that we’ve gotten a taste and a feel for what it takes to play in the SJHL [last year], so we’ll know now a bit more of what to expect coming back this September.”

Fellow second-year forward Jake Southgate added that having spent time around a number of well-established veterans on the team, going back to his brief stint with the club two years ago as well, he and his fellow rookies last year were able to learn from the example set out by the team leaders before them.

“Last year, we may have only got a few games, but some of the older guys who were with the team and were on that championship club were able to pass along some of their knowledge about the league and different teams, which is really helpful to us younger guys,” Southgate said.

“We’re just excited and ready for the season to start again and the fans to be back in the rink. It’s a fun atmosphere when you have the [Access Communications Centre] packed.”

Coaches and managers from the SJHL’s 12 member clubs will meet again later this month (June 24) in Humboldt to work out specifics when it comes to crafting team schedules for the year, just ahead of their annual AGM June 25-26.

To read the SJHL’s full announcement Tuesday, click here.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1