Josh Kotai has taken the SJHL by storm this season on his way to earning a Division I hockey commitment with Augustana in South Dakota. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Fall 2023 commit

Stars goalie, Kotai ‘excited for opportunity’ with Augustana Vikings

Feb 21, 2023 | 4:00 PM

Battlefords North Stars goaltender, Josh Kotai will be headed south of the border for the next stage in his hockey career.

Kotai has announced his commitment to the University of Augustana Vikings in South Dakota for the fall of 2023, a team set to join the Division I ranks of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA), a hockey-only conference of the NCAA.

It is an opportunity the 19-year-old netminder said he’s looking forward to.

“It’s really exciting, and it’s also kind of a sigh of relief just to have that [post-secondary] decision kind of over and done with and have something for next season that I can look forward to and work towards,” he said. “And it also allows me to just focus on this season as well.”

Kotai said a number of factors went into the decision, making the Vikings’ program stand out as the right choice for him.

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“Their coach Garrett [Raboin] is such an amazing coach and he’s done really well everywhere he’s been, and then the school and opportunity,” Kotai said.

“It’s a great opportunity to be able to come in and be able to play right away so I really like that, and they also have a new rink and the school’s amazing there too, so all of that made it an easy choice.”

Kotai is currently in the midst of a standout first season with the Stars, that has seen the Abbotsford, B.C., product post league-leading totals across the board.

With less than 10 games to go in the SJHL regular season, Kotai leads the league in every major goaltending stat, sitting first in wins (28), goals against average (2.41), and save percentage (.935), with a 28-3-2-1 record overall.

With still nine games to go in the regular season schedule, Josh Kotai’s 28 wins are already the most by a North Stars goalie in more than 15 years. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Head coach with the North Stars, Brayden Klimosko said he’s looking forward to seeing Kotai continue his hockey career at the next level, as a committed athlete dedicated to his craft.

“He deserves it and I think he’s been the best goaltender in our league this year,” Klimosko said. “He’s put in the work and he wants to get better, and I think the biggest thing I love about him is that he truly believes that if he keeps putting in the work he has a chance of making it to the NHL.

“You love guys that really have that passion and belief in their own ability, and if he believes it, I believe it too. He puts in the work and believes in his ability and you love guys that have success that way.”

Kotai and his North Stars teammates will return to action Tuesday night against Yorkton at the Access Communications Centre in North Battleford. The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will begin with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7 p.m., with puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m. on 1050 CJNB.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1