The North Stars hoist the Canterra Seeds Cup as SJHL Champions. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Drafting and Development

How the North Stars Championship team was built

May 31, 2023 | 4:00 PM

With the 2023 SJHL Draft just a day away, battlefordsNOW is taking a look back at how the Battlefords North Stars 2022-23 Championship roster was constructed and the importance of drafting and development to long-term success.

The North Stars won their fourth championship in franchise history this season, posting a dominant 12-1 record in the playoffs on their way to the title. They set a new franchise record with 99 points in the regular season, with a 48-5-2-1 record in 56 games.

Of the 24 players on the team’s playoff roster, six were drafted by the club, another 16 were recruited and signed directly, and two were acquired via trade.

Forwards

Jackson Allan, C: Selected in the third round (No. 35) of the 2019 SJHL Bantam Draft, Allan led all first-year North Stars with 31 points (nine goals, 22 assists) in 48 games. He paced the team in rookie scoring in the playoffs, with seven points (two goals, five assists) in 13 post-season games en route to the championship.

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Colby Bear, C: Signed out of Pilot Mound Hockey Academy June 14, 2021, Bear finished sixth in team scoring with 40 points (13 goals, 27 assists) in 52 games in his second season in the Battlefords, adding another seven points (four goals, three assists) in 13 playoff games.

Kian Bell, LW: A late addition by the Stars to start the season, Bell signed as a free agent Sept. 23, 2022, after spending the last two seasons with Cape Breton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Bell led the SJHL in goals (54) and points (102) in 51 games to earn SJHL MVP and player of the year honours in the regular season. He then added another 25 points (16 goals, nine assists) in 13 games to also lead the Stars in playoff scoring.

Bradley Blake, LW: Signed by the North Stars in late April 2021, following two years of U18 AAA in Rothsay, New Brunswick, Blake scored 28 points (11 goals, 17 assists) in 51 games in his second season with the team, adding another five points (one goal, four assists) in 13 playoff games.

Holden Doell, C: Selected in the first round (No. 11) of the 2018 SJHL Bantam Draft, Doell finished second in SJHL scoring with 100 points (33 goals, 67 assists) in 49 games to be named a finalist for SJHL MVP and Player of the Year. Doell added another 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 13 playoff games.

Riley Girod: LW: Selected in the sixth round (No. 71) of the 2018 SJHL Bantam Draft, Girod finished third in Stars’ rookie scoring this season with 27 points in 47 games, adding another two assists in 12 playoff games.

Jordan Grill, RW: Signed in late April 2022, Grill played both forward and defense in his sophomore season with the Stars, finishing with 24 points (four goals, 20 assists) in 42 games, adding another nine points (four goals, five assists) in 13 playoff games.

Steven Kesslering, RW: Selected in the third round (No. 32) of the 2017 SJHL Bantam Draft, Kesslering finished second in league goals (40) and fourth in points (69) in 54 games, adding another 18 points (14 goals, four assists) in 13 playoff games on his way to SJHL Playoff MVP honours.

Keiton Klein, RW: Signed in late April of 2021 following a season of USPHL Premier play with Steele County in Owatonna, MN., Klein finished sixth amongst Stars’ forwards with 37 points (17 goals, 20 assists) in 53 games in his second year in the Battlefords. He added another eight points (three goals, five assists) in 13 playoff games.

Marshall Light, C: Signed in late December of 2021 following a standout first season of Sask U18 AAA play with the Estevan Bears, Light scored seven points (three goals, four assists) in 28 games this season, suiting up for four playoff games with the Stars.

Ashtyn Shields, LW: Selected in the fourth round (No. 43) of the 2020 SJHL Bantam Draft, Shields registered six points (one goal, five assists) in 16 games with the North Stars this season.

Jake Southgate, RW: Undrafted in the SJHL Bantam Draft, Southgate was signed in June 2021. The Stars’ captain finished third in SJHL scoring with 82 points (25 goals, 57 assists) in 54 games, and second in playoff scoring with 22 points (six goals, 16 assists) in 13 playoff games this season.

Owen Underhill, LW: Signed in late April 2022 following two seasons with Mount Academy in North Rustico, PEI., Underhill tallied nine points (four goals, five assists) in 32 games, also suiting up for four playoff games.

Evan Waldie, LW: Acquired via trade for a Player Development Fee from the Canmore Eagles of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) Jan. 3, 2022, Waldie posted 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) in 45 games, with another goal in nine playoff games.

Emmett Wurst, C: Another of the late April 2021 signings from south of the border, Wurst scored 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 46 games in his second season with the Stars, adding an assist in nine playoff games.

Defencemen

Tynan Ewart: Signed in September 2021 following three seasons with the Pilot Mound Prairie Hockey Academy, Ewart finished fifth in Stars’ scoring with 56 points (eight goals, 48 assists) to pace all defencemen, on his way to earning SJHL top defenceman honours. He then added another 14 points (two goals, 12 assists) in 13 playoff games.

Zane Florence: Signed out of U18 AAA with Prince Albert in June 2021, Florence finished second amongst Stars blue liners with 31 points (seven goals, 24 assists) in 50 games, adding another six assists in 13 playoff games.

Jordan Gibbs: Signed in early April of 2022 following two years with the Sioux Falls Power U18 AAA program in South Dakota, Gibbs led all SJHL rookie defencemen in scoring with 30 points (six goals, 24 assists) in 51 games, adding another six points (one goal, five assists) in 13 playoff games.

Tanner Gold: Signed in early July 2021, after captaining the South Alberta Hockey Academy’s men’s U18 prep team, Gold picked up 30 points (eight goals, 22 assists) in 49 games, adding another five points (one goal, four assists) in 13 playoff games.

Alex Izyk: The Stars’ lone acquisition at the Canadian Junior Hockey League trade deadline Jan. 31, Izyk was acquired from the Calgary Canucks of the AJHL in exchange for a PDF. In 20 regular season games, Izyk scored 13 points (four goals, nine assist), adding another six points (one goal, five assists) in 13 playoff games.

Easton Rask: Selected in the second round (No. 23) of the 2019 SJHL Bantam Draft, Rask tallied 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 34 games, before suiting up for another two games in the playoffs.

Wilson Steele: Signed June 5, 2020 following one full season with the Calgary Buffaloes U18 AAA team, Steele scored 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 44 games, before adding another two points (one goal, one assist) in 12 playoff games.

Goaltenders

Josh Kotai: Signed in September 2022, after a season with Vermont of the Eastern Hockey League, Kotai led all goaltenders with 32 wins, a 2.39 goals against average, and .935 save percentage on his way to earning SJHL Top Goaltender honours. He posted a 12-1 record in the playoffs, with a 1.72 goals against, and .945 save percentage.

Justen Maric: Signed in September 2022 after three seasons of U18 AAA with the Canadian Athletic Club in Edmonton, Maric posted a 16-1 record in 17 games, with a 2.39 goals against average and .934 save percentage.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1