North Stars forward, Jake Southgate will continue his hockey career at the post-secondary level next fall at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

NCAA Divsion 1

Stars captain, Southgate commits to Lindenwood University

Dec 13, 2022 | 6:00 PM

Battlefords North Stars captain, Jake Southgate is NCAA Division 1 bound.

Southgate has announced his commitment to the Lindenwood Lions NCAA Division 1 program for the fall of 2023, an opportunity the Stars’ standout has been working towards for some time.

“I’ve been pushing for this for the past three years and [coaches, Brayden] Klimosko and Chilly [Garry Childerhose] have been a huge help along with my advisors; it’s been a dream come true,” Southgate said. “I couldn’t do it without my teammates and my linemates and the support that’s come in has been unreal.”

Southgate said, as for Lindenwood specifically, it is a program that checked all the boxes.

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“It’s an awesome program with great coaches, and they’re brand new this year so next year will be their second season and I’ll have a chance to go there and play right away,” Southgate said. “They have a great campus, and they have a nice business program.”

Southgate plans to pursue either Business or Kinesiology in the classroom.

A Battlefords product who was named captain of his hometown junior team just prior to the summer, Southgate has turned heads through the first half of the SJHL season.

He currently sits third overall in league scoring with 42 points in just 28 games, just three back of linemate Kian Bell for the league lead, while his 32 assists pace all players.

In addition to his contributions on the ice, Southgate has also been a fixture in the community, volunteering at the Stars’ Hockey School, Season Ticket BBQ, and Canadian Tire Jumpstart fundraisers among other community events. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

While the offensive numbers speak for themself, assistant coach with the North Stars, Garry Childerhose said the raw stats are only the tip of the iceberg of the player Lindenwood are receiving.

“Jake’s the best two-way forward in the league, and when you have that speed and you can put up those kinds of numbers with that kind of shot, it’s something special,” Childerhose said.

“He’s always playing the right way and playing honest hockey, so I know everyone in our [locker] room’s happy for him. He’s been an excellent player for us and he’s an even better person, so we couldn’t be happier.”

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1