Tanner Klimpke scored his first career SJHL goal Monday, and will get a chance to move up the lineup versus Yorkton for the Stars' final game at the league showcase. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Stars shining

Surging North Stars to take on Yorkton in search of third-straight win

Oct 5, 2021 | 2:53 PM

Just a day after opening the SJHL Showcase in Warman with a 9-5 win Monday afternoon over Melville, the Battlefords North Stars will return to action Tuesday night at the Legends Centre, to play the Yorkton Terriers.

The North Stars enter play 4-1-1 through their first six games this year, against a Yorkton team who will be desperate to get back on track, after starting their year 1-5 through their opening six.

Having scored 15 goals over their last two games, the Stars will make just a trio of changes to the lineup that have been on a tear of late offensively.

In goal, netminder, Ulrik Roussel will get the call for the team, while rookie forwards, Bradley Blake and Colby Bear also draw in to the mix.

Roussel’s start will serve as his second with the team, and third appearance of the young schedule, overall. The 19-year-old will enter play with a perfect 2-0 record, along with a 3.15 goals-against average and .904 save percentage.

Riderville

Now for the Hard Part

Dec 10, 2025

Grey Cup!!!

Everything you wanted and more

Nov 21, 2025

Ferland earns Grey Cup ring

'A wonderful human being': High school coach thrilled Logan Ferland is a Grey Cup champion

Nov 17, 2025

Blake, who scored his first career SJHL goal in his league debut Friday, will suit up for his second game on the fourth unit, alongside Bear and Ethan Scriven.

For Bear, Tuesday will mark his junior hockey debut with the team, after spending the last three years at Pilot Mound Academy, where he picked up four goals and nine points in just six games with the U17 Prep team last year.

The Stars top line of Jake Southgate, Holden Doell and Dace Prymak combined for two goals and seven points Monday, and now have four goals, 13 points over two games since being put together prior to Friday night’s meeting with Humboldt.

KT Walters, Emmett Wurst and Steven Kesslering, meanwhile will also stick together, as Walters’ knack for finding open space has blended well with the dynamic duo of Wurst and Kesslering, who have been the team’s most consistent players through the early going.

Kesslering’s nine points are tied for the team lead (with Southgate), while Wurst’s five goals are a club best as well.

Perhaps the hottest duo of all heading into play Tuesday, is the Dylan Esau-Ryland McNinch tandem.

Esau is coming off a four-point performance Monday afternoon, and has three goals, seven points over his last two games, since the pair were put together. McNinch was the only North Star to collect two goals versus Melville, and has four points over his last two games.

Matthew Henry, who has also been an integral piece to that line – and whatever unit he’s been a part of this season – will miss Tuesday night, due to a likely suspension for a hit versus Melvile, Monday.

In place, Tanner Klimpke, who scored his first of his career last game, and has played some of his best hockey of late, will move up to the left side of Esau and McNinch.

On the blue line, Wilson Steele and Riley Little; Sam Witt and Jordan Grill; and Tynan Ewart and Easton Rask will remain the six defencemen.

Ewart is coming off a performance scoring the first of his career Monday as well, which should only bode well for the blue-chip defenceman moving forward, as he cements himself among the top young two-way rearguards in the league.

Tuesday’s game versus Yorkton will be available on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast 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:

J. Southgate, H. Doell, D. Prymak

KT Walters, E. Wurst, S. Kesslering

T. Klimpke, D. Esau, R. McNinch

B. Blake, C. Bear, E. Scriven

Defencemen:

W. Steele, R. Little

S. Witt, J. Grill

T. Ewart, E. Rask

Goaltenders:

U. Roussel

C. Beson

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1