Forward, Emmett Wurst (front) and defenceman, Tynan Ewart (back) will be among the standout players to watch for the North Stars, heading into Thursday's contest versus La Ronge. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Back in action

North Stars travel to La Ronge for first matchup with Ice Wolves

Sep 30, 2021 | 2:30 PM

The Battlefords North Stars will return to action Thursday night versus the La Ronge Ice Wolves in La Ronge.

The Stars enter play 2-0-1, coming off a 6-3 victory over the Notre Dame Hounds Tuesday, while La Ronge are still looking for their first win of the season, at 0-2.

With 13 goals from eight different scorers over their opening three games, the North Stars’ offence has picked up where they left off in the preseason, with depth and precision of attack.

Centerman, Emmett Wurst remains the team’s hottest player heading into play Thursday, having scored at least a single goal in each of his first three games, with four total goals over the span.

To the right of Wurst, Steven Kesslering leads the club in points, with six (2G, 4A) through the first three games, while 17-year-old rookie, Matthew Henry rounds out the trio with three assists of his own.

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Jake Southgate, who shifted to the left of Dace Prymak in the latter’s first game back with the team Tues., is coming off a two-goal performance, while Prymak also notched one of his own, as the pair combined for four points total on the night.

KT Walters will remain with the duo tonight, serving as a third threat with a quick release who can make plays with speed.

Zane Florence will miss his second game in the last three due to an upper body injury sustained opening night, after scoring in his return to the lineup, Tuesday.

In his absence, Ryder Kenyon will draw back in on the left of Dylan Esau, while Daniel Thiessen will make his SJHL debut in Stars’ black and silver on the right-wing side.

Thiessen, who spent the last two years as a standout on the Double-A Sherwood Park Oilers of the North American Hockey League (NAHL U18), brings added size, speed and skill to the Stars’ lineup, within his 6’3, 200-pound frame.

On the backend, the Stars’ blue line will see just one alternation, as Wilson Steele will miss the night’s contest as a precautionary measure, making room for Tanner Gold to make his SJHL debut as well.

Gold spent his last full season in 2019-20 with the Medicine Hat Hounds U18 Double-A team. Thursday, he will line up alongside veteran, Riley Little

Little, and Sam Witt complement a burgeoning youth contingent on the Stars’ backend, that also includes Jordan Grill, Tynan Ewart, and Easton Rask, in addition to Gold. All three returning rookies have had their shining moments through the early games.

In goal, Beson will return between the pipes for the team, after starting both games opening weekend, ahead of a rest in favor of Ulrik Roussel Tuesday.

Through his opening two games this year, the soon-to-be 19-year-old has stopped of a total 59 of 65 total shots-against, entering play with a 2.94 goals-against average, and .908 save percentage.

Thursday’s NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will be available on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7 p.m., with puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

North Stars Lineup

Forwards:

E. Scriven, H. Doell, R. McNinch

M. Henry, E. Wurst, S. Kesslering

J. Southgate, D. Prymak, KT Walters

R. Kenyon, D. Esau, D. Thiessen

Defencemen:

T. Gold, R. Little

S. Witt, J. Grill

T. Ewart, E. Rask

Goaltenders:

C. Beson

U. Roussel

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1