Tynan Ewart has been the Stars' straw that stirs the drink on the backend all year, building on his Top Defenseman Award-winning regular season as a driving force on the Battlefords' run to the SJHL Finals. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Key to Finals run

Tynan Ewart: A force on blue line for North Stars

Apr 13, 2023 | 5:41 PM

It has been a season for the ages for Battlefords North Stars’ blueliner Tynan Ewart, who was named the SJHL’s Top Defenseman at the end of the regular season, and has only continued to turn heads for the team in their playoff run to the SJHL Finals.

With 56 points in 55 games during the regular season, Ewart’s totals marked the most by a Stars’ defender in 20 years, while since adding another nine points in nine playoff games to lead all defensemen again through the first two rounds of the post-season.

However, while the eye-grabbing point totals and deft playmaking on the offensive end may headline his tremendous impact for team, as North Stars head coach Brayden Klimosko is quick to point out, it is Ewart’s stalwart play on the defensive side of the puck that sets the foundation for his game and makes him the benchmark for junior hockey defensemen.

“I think people see the points and think he’s just an offensive guy, but we play him in all situations: on the penalty kill, playing against the top scoring line of the other team, and he just does it all for us,” Klimosko said. “He can defend and put up points as well, so obviously he’s a big part of our success this year.”

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Currently in his third year with the North Stars organization, but just second season with the lost ’21 campaign due to the pandemic, Ewart really hit the ground running from his first games with the team last year.

Going on to be named the Stars’ Top Defenseman at the club’s annual year-end awards banquet last year, after finishing eighth in league scoring at the position with 32 points in 57 games as a rookie, the Duncan, B.C., product only continued to build on that momentum into his 20-year-old season this year to bring his game to new heights.

Klimosko said Ewart’s progression throughout his junior career has been no surprise, due to his outstanding work ethic, and drive to be the very best.

“He’s just such a competitor and he works so hard,” the coach said. “He’s one of the first guys here [at the rink] every day, and he maintains his body. He’s cold tubbing, he’s doing yoga, shooting pucks and going to the gym, and all those little things make a real difference.”

“The way he takes care of his body, he’s a professional and that’s why he’s seen so much success. I give him a lot of credit for that.” – Klimosko on Ewart

That tireless work ethic has also been a valuable tone-setter for other players within the organization, as evidenced in the way Ewart’s teammates talk about him.

Tanner Gold, who is currently in his second year alongside Ewart on the Battlefords’ back-end, told battlefordsNOW he can’t say enough about #2.

“It’s amazing having a guy like that around here,” Gold said. “He’s someone I looked up to last year, and this year too obviously. He’s our top D-man, he does so much in the offensive zone and defensive zone, and he’s pretty much the best defenseman you can ask for.”

A horse on the backend, Ewart logged a team-high 33 minutes during the North Stars’ double OT win in Game 3 versus Melfort. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

First-year defenseman Jordan Gibbs, who broke into the junior ranks this year playing alongside Ewart on the team’s top pair, said taking the ice with the savvy Stars’ veteran has been a big part of making the transition to the league this year feel natural.

“I wouldn’t rather have anybody else for my first D-partner in junior,” Gibbs said. “Tynan’s had a great year and he works so hard. We were put together in camp to start the year, and from there we just built chemistry. From the start it’s been pretty simple to play with him.”

Never one to bask in his own glory, when asked about his own play this season and the accolades he’s garnered along the way, Ewart is quick to share credit with his teammates, adding that the most important trophy is the one still up for grabs– an SJHL Championship.

“It’s been a great year so far from the beginning to now, the playoffs have been really fun, and obviously we have a pretty special opportunity here coming up this weekend,” Ewart said of the Finals series ahead. “I’m looking forward to it, and to getting the job done.”

The North Stars will kick off their Finals series with the Flin Flon Bombers this weekend, with Games 1 and 2 Friday and Saturday night at the ACC in North Battleford. Both games will be available on 1050 CJNB, with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7 p.m., and puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m. on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast.

The full Finals series schedule can be found here.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1