Goaltender, Ulrik Roussel, will make his first start with the team Saturday since being sidelined with an upper body in early November. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

North Stars travel to Humboldt in search of third straight

Jan 8, 2022 | 3:35 PM

Coming off back-to-back wins on home ice to open the new year, the Battlefords North Stars will hit the road Saturday for their first road game of 2022 against the division-rival Humboldt Broncos.

Team outlook

The North Stars sit second in the Global Ag. Risk Solutions Division and fourth overall in the league standings with a 21-9-4 record heading into play. The team are 4-1 over their last five, with their lone loss coming at the hands of the Broncos, 7-1 just prior to Christmas.

The Broncos lead not only the division, but the league standings overall as well with a 27-9-0 record, giving them 54 points on the year. Coming off a 5-3 loss to Melville Tuesday, the team has still won eight of their last 10 heading into their first home game of the new year.

Head coach of the Stars, Brayden Klimosko said heading into the night’s contest, the team is looking forward to the matchup, having not forgotten the Dec. 18th loss.

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“I think obviously with how they beat us just prior to Christmas gives us every motivation to be ready for tonight,” Klimosko said. “We know they’ll be motivated too, looking to bounce back after losing to Melville Tuesday as well. So we’ll see their best and we’ll have our best, so it should make for a great matchup.”

Players to watch

The North Stars will receive a shot in the arm Saturday as center, Holden Doell and goaltender, Ulrik Roussel will make their returns to the lineup.

Doell returns to action, after serving his two-game suspension for a hit from behind on Dec. 18, against this same Broncos team, while Roussel will make his first start for the team since Nov. 5, when he was sidelined with an upper body injury.

Doell is fifth in team scoring with 24 points in 27 games, and will be reunited with Stars’ leading scorer, Jake Southgate (36 points) and fellow winger, Keiton Klein, who have combined for four goals, nine points over their last two games (Southgate 2G, 3A; Klein 2G, 2A).

At the other end, Broncos’ leading scorer, Connor McGrath who leads the league scoring race with 53 points through 35 games, will serve the second of his three-game suspension for an altercation in the Dec. 18 matchup against the Stars.

Despite the loss though, Humboldt’s offense remains potent, as Alec Saretzky sits fourth in league scoring with 43 points, and Matthew Perkins sixth with 41 points.

Special teams

The North Stars hold a slight edge on the man-advantage this year sitting second on the power play, clicking at just under 24 percent to Humboldt’s 21 percent (sixth).

However, on the penalty kill it is the Broncos’ 92 percent effectiveness on the kill that leads all teams, while the Stars rank 10^th at 77 percent.

Goaltending

As mentioned prior, Ulrik Roussel will make his return between the pipes for the Stars Saturday. Through his first 10 games with the team this year, Roussel is 5-3-0 with a 3.26 goals-against average and .906 save percentage.

Race Ramsay has played 32 of the Broncos’ 36 games this year, posting a 25-7-0 record this year along with a 2.18 goals-against average and .926 save percentage this season.

Saturday’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 at 7:30 p.m.

North Stars lineup

Forwards:

J. Southgate, H. Doell, K. Klein

Z. Florence, D. Esau, S. Kesslering

E. Waldie, R. McNinch, D. Prymak

T. Bahm, M. Henry, C. Bear

Defencemen:

E. Rask, E. Johns

S. Witt, T. Gold

T. Ewart, J. Grill

Goaltenders:

U. Roussel

L. Kenyon

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1