North Battleford city council at Monday's meeting. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Boost for North Stars

City council approves grant for North Stars to ready for nationals

Apr 25, 2023 | 8:46 AM

The City of North Battleford is giving the North Stars a grant of $3,000 to use to practice on a larger ice surface outside the community, as the team prepares to compete in nationals next month.

The North Stars won the 2023 Canterra Seeds Cup in the SJHL final after defeating the Flin Flon Bombers on April 22. Next, they will head to Portage la Prairie, beginning May 11, to vie for the Centennial Cup.

The 2023 North Battleford Kinsmen Indoor Rodeo is scheduled to take place at the Access Communications Centre (ACC) in North Battleford from April 28 to 30, so the arena ice is being removed for this event.

City Parks and Recreation Director Cheryl DeNeire said the North Stars gave up the ACC ice for practice, so the rodeo event could go ahead.

“They graciously gave up their [ACC] ice for practice yesterday,” DeNeire said.

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She said this allows the rodeo time to set up at the arena and enables the city to turn off the ice plant early, which will be cost savings to the city.

The North Stars will practice at the Don Ross Arena instead.

The $3,000 from the city will be used for ice rental or bus costs so the North Stars can also get in a number of practice sessions on a larger rink outside of the Battlefords as well before they leave, which will be more like what they can expect to use at nationals.

DeNeire said this will help allow them “to have the best success to represent the city the way they have been.”

Council approved administration’s recommendation to provide the North Stars with the grant.

Mayor David Gillan said city council is glad to help the North Stars in any way it can.

“I want to first congratulate our Stars for being SJHL champions,” Gillan said. “They’ve had a great season, and obviously they need to keep practising because they need to stay sharp for the playoffs. We support them, and we’re happy to do that.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow