Stars forward Holden Doell scored a hat-trick and five points the last time the Bruins came to North Battleford, and enters play with eight goals in his last five games, overall. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Surging North Stars

North Stars welcome Bruins as top team in Canada

Oct 25, 2022 | 2:32 PM

The Battlefords North Stars return to home ice Tuesday night versus Estevan, as the top ‘Junior A’ team in Canada.

The Stars reclaimed the top spot in the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Top 20 rankings this week, bouncing back from their lone loss of the season (coming in the shootout to Melfort, Oct. 14) with another three straight wins, to extend their scorching season start to 13-0-1 through their first 14 games.

The Stars will face another strong challenge Tuesday, in the form of the Viterra Division-leading Estevan Bruins (8-9).

The Bruins will be hungry to snap a three-game skid against the same Stars team that ended their seven-game winning streak, back on Oct. 15, when the Battlefords topped the Bruins 7-3.

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Tuesday’s showdown at the Access Communications Centre will feature the top two scorers in the SJHL, and four of the top-eight in league points, overall.

Bruins’ captain, Kade Runke leads all players this season with 22 points in 17 games, having scored six goals and nine points over his last six outings.

Just two points back, Stars’ captain, Jake Southgate is second overall with 20 points in just 14 games, and is coming off three straight multi-point efforts, having scored 10 points in his last five games.

Southgate’s linemates, Holden Doell and Kian Bell are tied for seventh in league scoring with 18 points, having tallied nine goals and nine assists apiece in 10 games for Doell and 11 for Bell.

Doell has been the hottest player in the league of late, with eight goals and 12 points over his last five games, while Bell is coming off back-to-back multi-point showings with nine points in his last five.

On the blue line the teams also boast the league’s top two defensemen scorers.

Stars’ veteran, Tynan Ewart leads all defensemen with 15 points in 14 games, as the lone point-per-game rearguard, followed by Estevan’s Alex Blanchard, who has posted 13 points in 17 games.

On special teams, both the Stars and Bruins have been amongst the league’s best on the man advantage, while middle of the pack on the penalty kill.

The Stars’ 25.4 per cent power play ranks third overall to Estevan’s 18.4 per cent efficiency (fifth), while their 83.3 per cent PK (sixth) is sixth to the Bruins’ 78 per cent (10^th).

In goal, the North Stars will start Justen Maric for his fourth game. The 18-year-old has posted a 3-0 record with a 2.66 goals against average and .926 save percentage this year.

At the other end, Estevan are highly likely to give the nod to Cam Hrdlicka, after giving their workhorse starter a rare night off Saturday in Melfort. Through 15 games, Hrdlicka has posted an 8-6 record with a 2.98 goals against average and .914 save percentage.

Tuesday’s game 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. on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcast.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1