North Stars forward Steven Kesslering was a force all Showcase, picking up two goals and an assist in two games with the SJHL's Team Gold. (submitted photo/Scott Stroh - JuniorNightMB)

By Martin Martinson

Shine on league stage

North Stars steal show at SJHL/MJHL Showcase

Feb 1, 2023 | 5:14 PM

It was an epic two-day event filled with the top Junior A players from across Saskatchewan and Manitoba, but at the end of this week’s SJHL/MJHL Showcase in Winnipeg, it was the CJHL’s top ranked Battlefords North Stars that shone above the rest.

With 10 North Stars selected to represent the SJHL at this year’s event, it didn’t take long for the local representatives to make their presence felt, as forward Steven Kesslering took home Star of the Game honours for the SJHL’s Team Gold in Tuesday’s opening contest.

Kesslering scored a goal and added an assist to lead the team to a 4-1 victory over the MJHL’s Team Red, and was a downright thorn in the side for the opposition, with his brash physicality and electric foot-speed that saw him draw a penalty and numerous scoring chances.

Stars’ goalie Josh Kotai also shone for the team in the win, making 28 saves on 29 shots to backstop Team Gold between the pipes.

Dazzling Lights

Family tradition; Klassen connects the community through Christmas

23h ago

New Years

Ring in the New Year at the Agrivilla Dec. 31

Dec 24, 2024

HOLIDAY SPIRIT

'It's a beacon of hope that someone cares': Battlefords food bank provides hampers to over 1,000 people in need

Dec 24, 2024

Following a 4-0 response by Manitoba’s U20 Team Black, over the SJHL’s Team White (featuring no Stars’ players), the Battlefords again saw a highlight performance from one of their own in the final game opening night. This time, courtesy of defenceman Jordan Grill in the U18 showdown.

Grill was named Star of the Game in Team Blue’s 5-4 win over Manitoba’s Team White, picking up an assist in a dominant all-around display of speed, skill, and again, physicality by the Battlefords local.

Wednesday, the Stars continued to take centre stage, as this time Kian Bell opened the day with a three-goal hat-trick performance to lead Team Gold to a dominant 6-0 final over the MJHL’s Team Black.

Kesslering also added his second goal in two games in the win, while Holden Doell (three assists) and Jake Southgate (two assists) also pitched in multi-point efforts.

Tanner Gold’s assist brought the Stars’ total to 10 points (four goals, six assists) in the game, while Melfort’s Dawson Leroux added a pair of goals and Estevan’s Cam Hrdlicka pitched a shutout with 35 saves.

Manitoba’s Team Red topped Sask’s Team White 4-2 in the second game of the day Wednesday, with still one more to go at the time of writing.

The final game will be a rematch of the two province’s U18 clubs: Team Blue (ft. Grill, Jackson Allan and Jordan Gibbs) and Manitoba’s Team White. The final game will begin at 5 p.m. and is also available on hockeyTV.

The SJHL have won three of the first five games of the event heading into the final contest, thanks in large part to the North Stars’ contributions.

Following the wrap-up of the Showcase Wednesday night, the North Stars will look to continue their momentum from a strong showing at the tournament, into their return to league play Thursday night at Notre Dame.

Thursday’s game at the division-rival Hounds will be available on 1050 CJNB. A slightly later start than usual, the Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7:30 p.m., with puck drop at 8 p.m. on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast.

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1