Stars' captain Jake Southgate will celebrate his 20th birthday on the road Friday, leading his team into action against the Estevan Bruins at Affinity Place. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

On the road again

Stars kick off southern road swing in Estevan

Nov 4, 2022 | 3:05 PM

The Battlefords North Stars set out on the road Friday, for their first of three games in three nights this weekend as they travel through southern Saskatchewan.

Kicking off their road trip in Estevan Friday night, with stops to follow in Weyburn Saturday and Notre Dame Sunday, the weekend opener will serve as the third of four meetings in the season series between the Stars and Bruins. The Stars have a 2-0 lead in the head-to-head series, thus far.

The North Stars enter the weekend a league-leading 15-0-2 through 17 games, giving them 32 points atop the standings.

The #1 team in Canada again this week, the Stars are coming off a strong showing last weekend that saw the club pick up three of a possible four points in their back-to-backs with the rival Humboldt Broncos, as they shoot to get back in the win column following Saturday’s 3-2 overtime loss.

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Estevan is first in the Viterra Division and fourth overall in the league standings, with an 11-10 record through 21 games, good for 22 points.

Winners of three straight since bouncing back from their Oct. 25 defeat to the Battlefords, the team has scored 11 goals over their last two games and is coming off a 6-0 victory over Humboldt.

There will be no shortage of star power on display Friday, as the Stars and Bruins litter the league’s scoring charts.

Bruins’ captain Kade Runke is tied atop the SJHL leaderboard with 27 points in 21 games, while Stars’ captain Jake Southgate leads his team, and sits third overall, with 25 points as the first of three Stars in the top six of league scoring.

On the backend, the teams also feature two of the most dangerous blue line weapons in the province, as North Star Tynan Ewart leads all defensemen with 17 points through 17 games, while Bruin Alex Blanchard sits second with 16 points in 21 games, including a league-high six goals from the back end.

In addition to their offensive exploits, the two also log important minutes for their respective teams in all situations, including on the penalty kill and matching up against the opposition’s best.

Special teams could play a pivotal factor Friday night, as both teams feature top-five power plays. The North Stars’ 25.8 percent efficiency on the man advantage sits second, while Estevan’s 20.2 percent is fourth.

On the penalty kill the Stars rank fifth at 83.3 percent, while Estevan is ninth at 78.4 percent.

In goal, the showdown continues, as Stars’ goalie Josh Kotai and the Bruins’ Cam Hrdlicka pace all netminders this season with 11 wins apiece.

Kotai is 11-0-2 with a league-best 1.61 goals against average and .949 save percentage, coming off a sparkling performance in back-to-back wins over the Broncos last weekend, stopping 69 of 74 Humboldt shots for a .932 save percentage against the league’s second-place team.

Hrdlicka will look to bounce back from a tough start to the season series, which has seen him pulled in each of the first two games in the Battlefords.

Nevertheless, the 19-year-old has proven himself amongst the league’s premier again this season, having played 18 of his team’s first 21 games (11-7 record) with a 2.85 goals against average and .917 save percentage.

Friday’s game will be available on 1050 CJNB. An earlier start than usual, the Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 6:30 p.m., with puck drop at 7 p.m. on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1