Lloydminster's Joel Webb shares a smile at North Stars fall camp over the weekend. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW)

By Martin Martinson

Back to business

North Stars ‘happy to be back’ as team wraps main camp

Aug 29, 2022 | 6:29 PM

The Battlefords North Stars wrapped up their main camp over the weekend, and while the competition was fierce, there were also a lot of smiling faces, of players happy to return to the ice.

Among them was team captain, Jake Southgate, who said it was great to see returning teammates and roster hopefuls back at the rink again, competing.

“Everybody’s happy to be back in the Battlefords, I don’t know,” Southgate said with a shrug, letting out a smile. “Lots of guys are happy to move in with their billets and guys on the ice have thrown their body around, so it’s nice to see.”

“Our team likes to be fast and physical and that’s definitely what this camp is, so it’s been awesome to see,” the hometown veteran continued. “We’re going to have a great season and it’s great to see all the guys back. The boys looked like they were buzzing out there.”

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The team’s lone returning goaltender, Lowen Kenyon, also spoke to the team camaraderie of the group, and their high expectations of themselves for the coming season.

“It’s nice to see all the coaching staff and my billet parents and obviously my teammates,” Kenyon said. “We had an unreal locker room last year and obviously, we fell short last year [in the playoffs], but we all know what to do this year. We’re all close in there and it’s the best locker room I’ve ever been in.”

When it comes to familiar names looking to take the next step and crack the Battlefords roster, AAA Stars teammates from last year, Dayne Henry and Treycen Wuttunee, also caught up with battlefordsNOW following the weekend’s final black versus white scrimmage game.

“This weekend was a big eye-opener just to see how good junior is at this level and what I need to get ready for the season,” Henry, who was the Stars’ first-round pick in the 2022 Bantam Draft, #12 overall said. “This weekend was an opportunity for us to really work our [behinds] off and show how we’ve been training this summer and that we’re committed to hockey.”

Still just 15 years of age, Henry added that in addition to the on-ice element, the experience was also an opportunity to learn from the veterans within the organization, how to train and act away from the rink and to find success at the next level.

“The biggest thing I noticed was just the character of everyone,” Henry added. “Everyone comes from different backgrounds and they all bring different things to the table so you can really learn from everyone here.”

Wuttunee, a 10^th round pick of the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League, #221 overall last spring, said he too just tried to soak up everything he could from the main camp experience with the Stars.

“I think it was really good for me to come here this weekend and get ready for my WHL camp and get used to playing with those bigger, stronger, physical guys,” Wuttunee said.

“I just want to be a leader and a role model, and try to take away everything I can from the guys who have played here at this level and just try to bring it to my game.”

“A lot of the older guys that are returning for the North Stars helped out a lot of us and just made this weekend a lot easier being there and checking in. I really appreciate all the vets coming back and just talking to us every day checking in, it goes a long way.”

With main camp now in the rearview mirror, the North Stars will look ahead to the start of the pre-season. The Stars’ exhibition schedule will open Wednesday, Aug. 31 with a neutral-site game against Bonnyville at Flying Dust First Nation. Puck drop will be at 7:30 p.m.

The North Stars Broadcasts will begin on 1050 CJNB with the start of the regular season.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1