Veteran forwards Brad Blake (#19) and Jackson Allan (#7) have been instrumental to the success of the North Stars this season, having combined for seven goals and 14 points through the team's first 12 games. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

On the road again

North Stars kick off three-game swing in Weyburn

Oct 26, 2023 | 12:12 PM

The Battlefords North Stars return to play Thursday night in Weyburn, to kick off their first three-in-three road swing of the season, through southern Saskatchewan.

The North Stars (6-5-0-1) enter play second in the Nutrien Division and sixth overall in the league standings, coming off a weekend split of back-to-back shootout contests with the Humboldt Broncos, looking to build on last Saturday night’s triumphant bounce back win.

The Weyburn Red Wings (6-3-0-3) enter the weekend just two points up on the North Stars – siting first in the Viterra Division and fourth overall. Fresh off back-to-back wins over Nipawin (6-2) and Yorkton (5-4) last weekend, the Wings will be looking for their third straight.

Headlining Thursday’s game will be the season debut of North Stars’ game-breaker, Kian Bell. The Fall River, NS., product is the defending SJHL leading scorer, MVP and Player of the Year from a season ago when he led the league in goals (54) and points (102) in just 51 games.

Bell caught up with battlefordsNOW earlier in the week to share his excitement about rejoining the team after starting the year in the CHL, split between the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League.

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The Red Wings are led offensively by captain and defending SJHL MVP of the Week, Max Monette.

Entering play with a team-high seven goals and 14 points in 12 games, Monette, who played primarily matchup minutes against the opposition’s best last year, has taken another leap offensively this season with his increased role as the Wings’ top line center.

Monette has been especially hot of late with five goals and seven points over his last three games, headlined by a three-goal, four-point performance last Friday against Nipawin.

In goal, the North Stars will go back to starter and defending SJHL Goalie of the Week, Justen Maric to make his third straight start. Fresh off a standout weekend performance that saw him stop 75-of-77 Humboldt shots in his last two games, Maric is 3-1-0-1 on the season with a league-best 0.97 goals against average and .971 save percentage.

Weyburn are all but guaranteed to start Dazza Mitchell. Having played 10 of his team’s first 12 games, Mitchell is 5-1-0-3 with a 2.34 goals against average and .933 save percentage. Last spring, Mitchell was the key to stretching the Wings’ first round series with the North Stars to five games, making 39-plus saves in three of the five games.

Thursday’s NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcast will be available on 1050 CJNB with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 6:30 p.m. and puck drop to follow at 7 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1