North Stars reflect on first-half milestones (Pt. 1)

It didn’t take long for North Stars forward, Emmett Wurst to get on the board in his SJHL career.

Scoring in his first game with the Stars, Wurst’s tally would serve as the game-winner as well in the North Stars’ opening night 3-1 victory over Kindersley.

Emmett Wurst poses for a picture with his first SJHL goal puck. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“I was just pumped; it’s always nice to get that first one out of the way,” Wurst recalled. “Their forward had a bad turnover at the blue line and I just kind of sunk behind their defenceman […] Kesslering found me, and I just kind of tipped it home.”

In 26 games with the North Stars this year, Wurst has scored nine goals and 13 points.

K.T. Walters – First goal, Sept. 24, 2021

There may not have been a goaltender in the net, but that didn’t make the moment any less special for Stars’ forward K.T. Walters, when he scored his first in the SJHL opening night against the Klippers.

K.T. Walters poses for a picture with his first SJHL goal puck. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“It was good to get that first one out of the way for sure,” Walters said. “Obviously it was an empty-netter, but a goal is a goal, so I’m just happy I was able to put it in,” he added with a wink.

Since then, Walters has added a number with a goalie in the net as well, as he sits tied for third on the team in goals heading into the New Year, with 11 in 27 games this year.

Sam Witt – First goal, Sept. 25, 2021

One of just two 20-year-olds on the blue line for the North Stars this season, Sam Witt scored the first of his SJHL career in the second game of the year versus his old team in Kindersley.

Sam Witt poses for a picture with his first SJHL goal puck. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“It came against my former team, which felt great, obviously,” Witt said. “Doellsy [Holden Doell] centered it to me, and I kicked it up to my stick and just backhanded it past the goalie in Kindersley, so it was just a great feeling.”

“My parents had come down from Calgary to Kindersley, as it’s only a four-hour drive, so they were there to congratulate me afterwards too, which was perfect,” Witt added with a smile.

In 32 games with the Stars this season, Witt has two goals and 13 points.

Jordan Grill – First goal, Sept. 25, 2021

Jordan Grill also scored his first against the Klippers opening weekend, even if it wasn’t officially credited as his until further review.

Initially given to forward Holden Doell, as it deflected off a maze in front, Grill couldn’t help but joke with his teammate when asked about the memories of that opening tally.

Jordan Grill poses for a picture with his first SJHL goal puck. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“We were in Kindersley and I got the puck at the blue line but when I went to shoot the puck, it went off a skate, so of course Dollsy [Holden Doell] had to go and take credit for it,” he said with a big laugh.

However, Grill would get a big celebration with teammates just a month later, when he scored his second (clean into the net on another point shot), in his home town, North Battleford.

“It was definitely awesome though to see that second one go in, and be able to share that one with the guys in the home rink,” Grill said.

In 26 games this season, Grill has three goals and 11 points.

Zane Florence – First goal, Sept. 28, 2021

Growing up in the Battlefords and attending North Stars games in the community, perhaps it was only too fitting Zane Florence’s first with the Stars would come in the home rink where he grew up watching the team play.

Zane Florence poses for a picture with his first SJHL goal puck. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Scoring the Stars’ fifth goal in a 6-3 victory over Notre Dame, Florence said he still remembers the moment well.

“It was nice to score that one so early in the year, and get it off my back early,” Florence recalled with a laugh. “My family was there to see it too which was nice, and my teammates were all excited with lots of hugs, so it was a special one for sure.”

In 25 games with the North Stars this season, Florence has nine goals and 16 points.

Holden Doell – First goal, Oct. 1, 2021

Holden Doell notched his first in the SJHL on the first day of October against Humboldt.

Coming just 1:21 into the second period, Doell’s tally was the Stars’ second of the night, in what would be a 6-3 win over the rival Broncos. It’s a moment the Martensville, Sask., product still recalls with a smile looking back.

Holden Doell poses for a picture with his first SJHL goal puck. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“I remember I was just driving the front of the net and Jake [Southgate] threw it off the goalie’s pad, and I just got a greasy one, but it was nice to get that first one on the board, for sure,” he said.

Holden, who is the younger brother of former La Ronge captain turned Mustangs’ forward, Nolan Doell said he also remembers hearing from his brother following the night’s contest.

“My brother Nolan was the first one to call me after the game,” he remembered, before adding with a smirk, “He had a couple on the season already himself, but he still reached out after the game to congratulate me.”

Doell sits fifth in team scoring at the holiday break with seven goals and 24 points in 27 games this year.

Bradley Blake – First goal, Oct. 1, 2021

Perhaps the most highlight-reel worthy of first goals this season was scored by Stars’ first-year forward, Brad Blake.

Suiting up for his first game of the season in that same 6-3 win over Humboldt, Blake’s first came just over five minutes into the third period on a jaw-dropping inside-outside move at the net.

Brad Blake poses for a picture with his first SJHL goal puck. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“It was my first game, so I was pretty pumped up,” Blake said with a laugh. “I couldn’t really believe I had pulled it off, but it was great [and] a lot of people were watching from back home. The boys were definitely giving me the gears for it and for my celly (celebration) after, but it’s just a great group of guys so they were just really happy for me.”

Blake has three goals and nine points in 19 games this season.

Tynan Ewart – First goal, Oct. 4, 2021

Coming in the first of the team’s two games to open the month at the SJHL League Showcase, Tynan Ewart’s first of the season came midway through the second period of the Stars’ 9-5 victory over Melville in Warman.

Tynan Ewart poses for a picture with his first SJHL goal puck. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Ewart called it a ‘good feeling’ to get on the board early with his first.

“Obviously it was something I was looking forward to for a long time, and it’s nice to get that first one off the back early-ish in the season,” Ewart said. “It was a great feeling as all the boys were excited, and I was excited of course, so it was just all around a good feeling to have.”

Ewart leads all North Stars blue liners heading into the new year, with 18 points in 33 games this season.

This concludes part 1/2, reflecting on the North Stars’ first goal milestones from the first half of the 2021-22 season. Part 2/2 will be available tomorrow (Dec. 28) at 9 a.m.

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

North Stars reflect on first-half milestones (Pt. 1)

What's Trending