Forward Jack Forrester, who is coming off his first season of U18 AAA last year with the Battlefords Stars, pictured here at North Stars main camp. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Back on the Ice

North Stars fall camp: a time of opportunity, excitement for season ahead

Sep 8, 2023 | 5:24 PM

The Battlefords North Stars kicked off their fall camp for the 2023-24 season Thursday night at the Access Communications Centre.

As is the case heading into any new season, main camp – which will run until Saturday, Sept. 9 – serves as the first chance for many returning players, off-season signings, and team hopefuls to rejoin teammates, meet new faces, and fight for a spot on the opening night roster.

Among those destined for a breakout season with the Stars this year is forward, Jordan Grill, who scored a pair of goals and added an assist to lead Team 1 (Red) to a 3-0 win over Team 2 (White) in the opening game of intra-squad action.

“It’s awesome to get back on the ice, I couldn’t be happier to be back with the team, and I’m looking forward to the year,” Grill said with a smile, postgame.

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Now heading into his third year with the team, Grill, who moved from his natural position on the blue line to forward (mainly wing) for the Stars’ playoff run, only appeared to gain confidence in his new role as the Stars’ post-season went along, building to a crescendo in the SJHL finals with a two-goal, one assist performance to lead the team in their cup-clinching Game 4 win in Flin Flon.

Heading into this season, it’s clear the sky is the limit for the Battlefords’ #4.

“This year I’m hoping to be one of the top guys,” Grill said when asked about his mindset heading into the season. “I feel like the work I’ve put in in the offseason is going to pay off this year,” adding that he expects the team as a whole to surprise as well.

With just 11 players from last year’s championship roster back at fall camp this season, including eight forwards (Grill, Riley Girod, Jackson Allan, Marshall Light, Evan Waldie, Owen Underhill, Ashtyn Shields, Brad Blake), and three defencemen (Tanner Gold, Alex Izyk, Easton Rask), the Stars will be relying on some of their youth to play impact roles from the jump this year.

Among those heading into his first season with the team, looking to do just that, is playmaking winger, Matthew Biros.

A Stars’ signing from over the summer, despite being just 18 years of age, the native of Coquitlam, BC., enters the season with already some valuable junior experience under his belt, having played 37 games with Cowichan Valley of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) last season, where he managed six points (one goal, five assists) in 37 games as an under-ager.

Also a part of Team 1 (Red) that picked up the win in their opening scrimmage game, despite not registering a point in the contest, the 5-foot-10 offensive creator showed some nice flashes of his speed and skill with the puck.

He said off the ice the returning players have also helped ease the transition, coming to a new team.

“Seeing new faces is always a good thing, making new friends, and overall it’s been a good experience with some friendly faces here,” he said following the opening scrimmage. “I’m excited to get to know the guys here.”

North Stars defenceman Easton Rask should play a key role on a young North Stars’ blue line this year. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

On the backend, the Stars will rely heavily on 20-year-old veterans Tanner Gold and Alex Izyk to provide the pillars for what promises to be a very young blue line as well. The two, who provided the team’s go-to shutdown pairing from the time Izyk was acquired at last year’s deadline, have combined for 191 career junior games heading into the season.

Returning 19-year-old, Easton Rask adds another 76 games’ experience, while no other defenceman at camp has more than Gavin Granger’s five he registered as an “AP” call-up with the team last season.

Gold, who established career-highs across the board with 30 points (eight goals, 22 assists) in 49 games last year, was named team captain in late August. He said he’s liked what he’s seen through the early part of camp from some of the young players looking to make their mark in the junior ranks this season.

“It was fast out there, the guys were moving, and it’s good to get back on the ice here in Battlefords,” he said. “It’s awesome seeing some of the younger guys come in here, there’s lots of young talent out there and the pace is fast.”

Between the pipes, with goalie Justen Maric attending Portland Winterhawks camp in the Western Hockey League, the starter’s job appears to be up for grabs between a pair of summer signings in Joey Hawco and Cédric Cyr-Dauphinais.

Hawco is a 5-foot-9 goaltender from Halifax, NS., who spent last year with the Steele Subaru of the Nova Scotia U18 hockey League, posting a 2.98 goals against average and .915 save percentage.

Cyr-Dauphinais is a 5-foot-10 netminder from Beloeil, Quebec, who posted a 2.32 goals against average and .911 save percentage in 26 games with Saint-Hyacinthe of the Quebec AAA League, before also getting a six-game call-up to Drummondville of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (posting a 3.60GAA and .876 save percentage).

Both netminders have been nothing short of superb to start camp as Cyr-Dauphinais backstopped Team 1 to a 3-0 win in his opening game, and Hawco allowed just a pair of goals in the final period of Team 4′ (Teal)’s 6-2 win over Team 3 (Yellow).

“I would say it’s up for grabs between the two of them,” Head coach and G.M. Brayden Klimosko said the starters’ job. “I’m really happy with both of them right now.”

North Stars’ fall camp has continued Friday with practices until 3 p.m., followed by a pair of scrimmage games still to come in the evening. Team 1 (Red) will play Team 3 (Yellow) at 7:30 p.m., before Team 2 plays Team 4 to wrap up the evening, starting at 9 p.m.

More on the full camp schedule can be found here.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1