North Stars, Hounds to face off Tuesday in Wilcox

Sitting second in the Global Ag. Risk Solutions Division and fifth in the league standings, the Stars are 9-5-2 through their first 16 games, giving them 20 points on the season.

Notre Dame meanwhile, are among the hottest teams in the league of late, having won three-straight and eight of their last 10 overall.

With an 8-5-0 record through 13 games, the Hounds sit four points back of the Stars with 16 points, while holding three games in-hand.

Team scoring leaders

Forward Jake Southgate, who scored his team-leading 10^th of the year on Saturday, sits fourth overall in goals scored and tied for fourth in points in the league scoring race. Steven Kesslering, who also scored versus the Mustangs, sits just back at 11th with 17 points on the year.

Dylan Esau and Holden Doell are tied for the Stars’ high-water mark in assists with 12 apiece, though Doell will miss the night’s contest due to an upper body injury expected to keep him out about two weeks.

In Doell’s absence, two-way standout, Emmett Wurst will draw back into a top six center role for the team, alongside KT Walters and Zane Florence.

Notre Dame are led offensively by forward Kevin Anderson, who paces the Hounds in both assists (17) and points (19), and has four points over his last three games on his team’s current winning streak.

Elliot Dutil’s 11 goals in 13 games are also a team-best, while his 16 points are tied with Connor Nolan for second on the Hounds.

Goaltenders

Perhaps the most intriguing matchup of the night comes from the likely showdown between the pipes.

Coming off his first win in a North Stars’ sweater, Michael Harroch will make his third-straight start (and fourth overall) for the Battlefords on Tuesday.

Lights out since being acquired by the Stars late last month, Harroch has posted a 1-1-1 record with a sparkling 2.00 goals-against average and .944 save percentage through his first three games with the club.

Austin Elliott, who is likely to get the start for Notre Dame, has also been a difference-maker for his team between the pipes. The 17-year-old is 7-0 to start his SJHL career, with a standout 1.79 goals-against average and .942 save percentage.

Special teams

The Hounds power play ranks fourth in the SJHL, clicking at just over 21 per cent, while their penalty kill is fourth as well, at just under 86 per cent effectiveness.

The North Stars sit seventh at just under 19 per cent on the man-advantage, while their penalty kill (PK) is ninth at just under 76 per cent. That said, the PK is coming off a much-improved showing against Melfort that saw the Stars go 5/5 on the kill.

The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will be available on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7:30 p.m. with puck drop at 8 p.m.

North Stars lineup

Forwards:

J. Southgate, D. Prymak, R. McNinch

K.T. Walters, E. Wurst, Z. Florence

M. Henry, D. Esau, S. Kesslering

E. Scriven, T. Klimpke, K. Klein

Defencemen:

E. Rask, R. Little

S. Witt, O. Lugowski

T. Ewart, J. Grill

Goaltenders:

M. Harroch

U. Roussel

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

North Stars, Hounds to face off Tuesday in Wilcox

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