The North Stars enter the Christmas break on an 11-game winning streak as the top team in the country. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

#1 in Canada

Stars head into holidays with ninth straight week atop CJHL rankings

Dec 20, 2022 | 2:40 PM

For the ninth straight week and 10th in the last 11, the Battlefords North Stars have retained their place as the top team in the nation, with the release of the latest Canadian Junior Hockey League Top 20 Rankings.

The lone team in the country still undefeated in regulation time heading into the Christmas break, the North Stars (28-0-2-1) are coming off a three-game sweep of their central Saskatchewan road swing over the weekend.

The Stars topped Yorkton 9-6 Thursday and 5-3 Saturday, sandwiching a 3-2 overtime decision in Melville Friday night, to bring their season-best winning streak to 11-straight.

With 59 points in the standings, the Battlefords now sit 14 ahead of second place La Ronge (45 points) who lead the field in the SJHL.

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Rounding out the top five in the CJHL Top 20 are the #2 Cobras de Terrebonne (28-2-0-0) of the LHJAAAQ, #3 Brooks Bandits (33-3-1-1) of the AJHL, and #4 Toronto Jr. Canadiens (30-3-1-1) and #5 Collingwood Blues (25-4-0-1) of the OJHL.

Doell named SJHL MVP of Week

In addition to the team recognition again this week, the North Stars also saw forward Holden Doell recognized as the SJHL MVP of the Week.

Doell is coming off another outstanding week that saw the recently-turned 19-year-old register three goals and six assists for nine points over the team’s three wins.

Doell scored a goal and at least two points in all three games, and enters the holidays just two points back of linemate Kian Bell for the league lead in scoring with 52 points (17 goals, 26 assists) in just 25 games.

The North Stars will get a couple of weeks off over the holidays, before returning to play in the new year, on home ice, Jan. 4 against the La Ronge Ice Wolves.

The game will be available on 1050 CJNB, with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7 p.m. and puck drop at 7:30 p.m. on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1