North Stars goaltender Justen Maric has been locked in, bringing an aura of calm, cool, and competitiveness to his team. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

League recognition

North Stars’ Maric named SJHL Goalie of the Week

Oct 24, 2023 | 4:46 PM

Coming off a standout performance this weekend that saw him stop 75 of 77 total shots to lead his team to a weekend split with the division rival Humboldt Broncos, Battlefords North Stars goaltender Justen Maric has been named the SJHL Goalie of the Week.

This marks the second time in three weeks Maric has taken home the distinction, having quickly established himself as the goaltending benchmark in the SJHL with a league-best 0.97 goals against average and .971 save percentage through five games this season, since rejoining the North Stars at the beginning of the month from Portland of the Western Hockey League where he started the year.

“Obviously it’s been great and I’ve felt good,” Maric said of his start to the season. “I think I’ve settled in really nicely with the boys and I just think the defense in general has been very good and it’s allowed me to play my game well.”

Maric added that the team’s response on night two of their back-to-back with Humboldt, coming off a shootout heartbreaker Friday, to respond with a shootout win of their own Saturday in Humboldt is an indicator of the team’s resolve.

“I thought that was a huge building weekend for us as a group,” Maric said. “Obviously the first one we felt hard done by, but it just shows our character to come back the next day and take two points in their barn,” he said.

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Brayden Klimosko, head coach of the North Stars, said Maric’s play has inspired confidence throughout the lineup.

“He’s been really solid for us ever since he’s been back,” Klimosko said. “Guys obviously are just so confident in him and playing ahead of him, and we don’t get the points we did this weekend without him. He made some big saves when needed and as long as he keeps doing that, we feel like we can beat anyone in this league.”

Also recognized in the SJHL’s Players of the Week for Oct. 16-22 are Weyburn’s Max Monette, who was named MVP of the Week; Notre Dame’s Cole Wirun, who took home Forward of the Week; Flin Flon’s Noah Houle, who was Defenceman of the Week; La Ronge’s William Forsberg, named Rookie of the Week; and Melfort’s James Venne, the Saskatchewan Player of the Week.

More on these winners can be found at the SJHL website.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1