North Stars forward Kian Bell, pictured here with his uncle Martin Smith, the North Stars' franchise scoring leader. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Shooting for 50 goals

Bell chasing history, family legacy with North Stars

Feb 3, 2023 | 5:25 PM

It’s been a magical season for Battlefords North Stars forward, Kian Bell, who picked up his 39^th and 40^th goals of the year Thursday night, to lead the team to a 5-2 win at Notre Dame.

Coming in just his 39^th game of the season, Bell’s goal-scoring prowess and consistency at his craft has him on pace to become just the third North Stars player to crack the 50-goal plateau in franchise history, and the first since the 1991-92 season.

It was that year Bell’s uncle and North Battleford/Edam local Martin Smith achieved the feat, scoring 51 in 64 games to lead the SJHL in scoring on his way to largely re-writing the Stars’ history books.

Smith’s 51 goals remain the most by a Battlefords’ player since Darren Nauss’ 58 (also in 64 games) during the 86-87 season, while his 158 career goals and 376 career points set a new North Stars franchise record, each of which still stands today.

Pictured L-R: Kian Bell as a little tyke with a near identical shooting form to his uncle, Martin Smith. (Submitted photos/Martin Smith)

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For Smith, a father of four girls none of whom played the game, it’s been a treat watching first-hand what his nephew has been able to do this season, with a chance to become the first Stars’ player to hit the 50-goal plateau since he accomplished the feat 31 years ago.

“It’s like having a son in hockey, and to be able to watch him night in and night out and see his progress has been extremely special,” Smith said.

“If he gets more than 51, I’d be so happy that he’s able to do that. I know every hockey player guns for 50 [goals], and I just think it’s really exciting and would be really special for us if he could get that. But even more importantly, he’s on a fantastic team with a chance to possibly win a championship, and that’s first and foremost.”

Bell said from the get-go, his uncle’s history with the Stars played a big role in his decision to come over and join the team this year. His influence is reflected in the 19-year-old’s decision to don Smith’s old #27 as homage.

Martin Smith, Kian Bell, and Kian’s father Rob Bell on the outdoor rink behind the Access Communications Centre. (Submitted photo/Martin Smith)

“He’s been a big part of my hockey career my whole life,” Bell said. “He’s always been there watching me and texting me feedback after games, so when I got the chance to come out to North Battleford that was definitely a big part, to be closer to him.”

“He’s kind of like a second hockey dad getting to come out and watch, and it’s pretty special for me to have him there all the time.”

Following a scorching start to the season that saw Bell register six goals through his first seven games, and 28 through 28 games into the Christmas break, the two would often joke back and forth about if Bell would be able to one-up Smith in the goals department.

However, as Bell has continued his pace, now just 10 goals away from 50 with 12 games to go in the regular season schedule, there’s real potential for the Stars’ standout to join the exclusive 50-goal club.

“There was a time a while ago we were joking about it, because to be honest, I didn’t really think I’d get that close to it back then,” Bell said with a laugh. “Now I’m trying to keep putting the puck in the net and we’ll see what happens.”

In addition to the goal scoring, Bell also picked up another two helpers Thursday to compete another four-point night, and move the Fall River, NS., product into a tie with linemate Holden Doell for the league lead in points as well, with 73 in 39 games.

Perhaps most impressive about Bell’s numbers is the consistency with which he has dominated this year. Through his first 39 games, 28 have been multi-point efforts while just seven times he has been left off the scoresheet entirely.

Currently on a four-game multi-point streak, Bell has seven goals and 10 points over his last four, not including a hat-trick performance on the biggest stage yet this season, to earn Star of the Game with the SJHL’s Team Gold at the SJHL/MJHL Showcase in Winnipeg earlier in the week.

With the Stars having all but officially wrapped up first place in the SJHL standings, currently sitting 21 points up on the field, one thing is for sure: the team remains must-see viewing down the stretch, as #27 shoots for his place amongst Stars legends of the past and continues a rich family legacy among the Battlefords hockey greats.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1