The North Stars will play the first game opening day of the Centennial Cup tournament, bright and early Thursday morning. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

National Tourney Begins

North Stars kick off Centennial Cup quest versus Kam River

May 11, 2023 | 5:00 AM

The Battlefords North Stars take their first step in their quest for a National ‘Junior A’ Championship Thursday morning, in their opening game of the Centennial Cup in Portage, MB.

Facing off against the Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) champion, Kam River Fighting Walleye, the game will open the tournament with a 10:30 a.m. start Saskatchewan time, marking the Stars’ first game since their SJHL championship-clinching Game 4 victory in Flin Flon, Apr. 22.

The North Stars Centennial Cup schedule. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

North Stars veteran defenceman, Wilson Steele said it’s an opportunity he and his teammates have been looking forward to, getting the chance to compete on the national stage.

“It’s pretty unbelievable, I know we’re all really excited to get things going here and it’s probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I can’t wait to get it going,” Steele said.

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Team breakdown

The North Stars finished the SJHL regular season a league-best 48-5-2-1, before rattling off another 12 wins in 13 playoff games, sweeping both Melfort and Flin Flon en route to the league championship.

Kam River finished the SIJHL season a league-high 40-11-1-1, to also enter their league playoffs as the top seed overall, and earn a bye to the semi-finals. There, they topped Wisconsin in five games, before coming back from down 0-2 to edge out Thunder Bay in seven games of the finals.

Players to watch

The Walleye were led offensively this season by a trio of 50-point scorers, in forwards Jeremy Dunmore and Ethan Lang, and defenceman Jack Cook.

Dunmore’s 58 points (19G, 39A) in 44 games were tied for second in SIJHL scoring this year, followed closely by Lang’s 54 points (18G, 36A) in 52 games, tied for fifth.

Cook led all defencemen in scoring and finished ninth overall with 50 points (21G, 29A) in 43 games, on his way to earning Top Defenceman honours, before also adding Playoff MVP accolades with a team-high 11 goals and 19 points in 12 playoff games to lead the Walleye to the SIJHL championship.

As well documented throughout the year, the North Stars counter with no shortage of star power of their own, as the first team in SJHL history to have the league’s top four in scoring.

Kian Bell’s 102 points (54G, 48A) in 51 games led all players to earn League MVP and Player of the Year honours, followed by Holden Doell’s 100 points (33G, 67A) in 49 games, Jake Southgate’s 82 (25G, 57A) in 54 games, and Steven Kesslering’s 69 (40G, 29A) in 54.

Together the quartet also finished top-four in playoff scoring: Bell with 25 points, Southgate with 22, Doell with 20, and Kesslering with 18 (headlined by 14 goals) on his way to earning Playoff MVP distinction.

On the backend, the Stars also feature the SJHL’s Top Defenceman Award winner, Tynan Ewart. The Duncan BC., product paced all blue liners with 56 points (8G, 48A) in 55 games, before adding another 14 in 13 playoff games as a two-way force for the Battlefords. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Special teams

Due to the firepower on both sides, special teams play will be of the utmost importance.

The North Stars’ power play was just under 25 percent this season (third in SJHL), while their penalty kill improved from 80 percent in the regular season (sixth) to 86.5 percent in the post-season (second).

Kam River were just under 21 percent on the power play during the regular season (second in SIJHL) and 86 percent on the kill (second), though their power play did skyrocket to 32.5 percent on the man advantage (again second) in the playoffs.

Goaltending

North Stars starter Josh Kotai was the SJHL Top Goaltender this year, setting the standard at the position with a league best 32-4-2-1 record in 39 games, also pacing all at the position with a 2.39 goals against average and .935 save percentage on the season.

In the playoffs, Kotai then ramped up his game even further with a 12-1 record, and a 1.72 goals against and .945 save percentage.

Josh Kotai pictured here with Stars defenceman Wilson Steele, was also named a finalist for the CJHL Goaltender of the Year for his standout play this season. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Kam River’s Eric Vanska posted an SIJHL-best 27-6-1-1 record in 36 games, with a 2.70 goals against average (second) and .919 save percentage (fourth).

In the playoffs Vanska was 8-2-2 with a 2.81 goals against and .903 save percentage.

Broadcast info

Thursday morning’s game between the North Stars and Fighting Walleye will be available on 1050 CJNB, with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 10 a.m. and puck drop to follow at 10:30 a.m. Sask time on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast.

Each one of the North Stars’ Centennial Cup games will be broadcast on 1050. The team’s full schedule can be found here.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1