Stars goalie, Josh Kotai has been lights out between the pipes, with a perfect 5-0 record, coming off his first career shutout performance Tuesday versus Weyburn. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Wednesday morning Hockey

North Stars go for sixth straight versus Mustangs

Sep 28, 2022 | 10:00 AM

Coming off an 8-0 victory over Weyburn in their opening game of the SJHL Showcase Tuesday, the Battlefords North Stars return to action Wednesday morning, against the Melfort Mustangs.

The North Stars (5-0) enter the early-bird 10:30 a.m. contest in search of their sixth straight win to open the year, in their final game of the Showcase event, playing Melfort for the first time this season.

With another seven different goal scorers contributing in their eight-goal outing Tuesday, the North Stars have had no shortage of players contributing through the early going this season, none more than 20-year-old Keiton Klein.

Klein leads the SJHL in goals (seven) and the Stars in points (eight), coming off a two-goal outing versus the Wings Tuesday. Klein has scored at least a single goal in each of the team’s first five games to open the year.

The Mustangs (2-2-1) are coming off a decisive victory in their own right, beating the Notre Dame Hounds 4-0 Tuesday morning.

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Defenseman, Leith Olafson leads the Mustangs– and all blue liners– in both goals (four) and points (six) through the early part of the season, having scored a goal in four straight heading into play.

Special teams could play a key factor Wednesday, as the Stars’ top power play in the league is clicking at 35.7 percent. They will meet the Mustangs’ league-best penalty kill, which boasts an 88.2 percent success rate.

The Stars’ PK ranks third-best at 84.6 percent while also contributing a pair of shorthanded goals in their last outing, while Melfort’s power play has cashed on just 13.6 percent of their chances (11^th overall), but still have weapons to convert on their opportunities.

In goal, the Stars have given the reigns to first-year standout Josh Kotai, who is 5-0 to start the season, along with a league-best 1.15 goals against average and .964 save percentage. Kotai is also coming off his first career SJHL shutout, blanking the Wings in the North Stars’ 8-0 win.

Melfort is likely to give the start to Joel Favreau, who has also started all five of their games to open the year. Favreau is 2-1-1 to open the season, with a 2.08 goals against average (fifth) and .922 save percentage (sixth).

The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcast will be available Wednesday morning on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 10 a.m. with puck drop to follow at 10:30 a.m.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1