North Stars’ rookies reflect on first goal milestones

Set up by a fellow first-year teammate in Andrew Casellato, even three months later, Sinclair can still remember the scoring play distinctly.

“I remember me and [Andrew] Casellato, we were on the forecheck, he got a good turnover and dished it to me in the slot. I got a good shot off and it was just nice to get one super early into the season,” Sinclair recalled; adding, “I got a couple of old coaches texting me ‘congrats’ and my parents too of course.”

At the Christmas break, Sinclair sits third amongst North Stars’ rookies and seventh overall in freshman scoring across the SJHL, with 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in 26 games.

Carson Olsen – Sept. 23, 2023

It also took just two games into his SJHL career for defenceman, Carson Olsen to find the back of the net, doing so in a two-point performance (one goal, one assist) against the Klippers the same night as Sinclair’s first career tally.

Serving as the third and final North Stars’ goal in the game, Olsen’s marker came late in the third period with just under six minutes remaining.

“The puck came out to the neutral zone and I picked it up, turned it around and skated back the other way,” Olsen recalled. “I went down the wall and saw the five-hole was open so I tried throwing the puck there and it went in, so it was definitely special.

“It’s always nice getting the first one, and it’s good to get that early. The guys were pretty excited.” – Carson Olsen on his first goal in the SJHL

At the time of the holiday break, Olsen’s 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists) are second-most amongst North Stars’ rookies and fifth overall amongst first-year SJHL players, leading all 17-year-old (’06 birthdate) players.

Rylan Williams – Sept. 29, 2023

Williams’ first in the SJHL came just three games into his North Stars’ tenure, serving as the final of nine goals for the team in a 9-6 win over the Terriers in Yorkton.

Coming into the empty net to seal the victory for his team, Williams said while it was nice to get the first one on the board early, it was really his second goal – and first against a goaltender – that stands out.

“The first one was an empty netter so we don’t really count that one, I was more excited about the second one, for sure,” he recalled with a laugh. “After I got that empty netter, Sambo (head coach, Brayden Klimosko) actually gave me half-a-puck and that was my first-goal puck – just as a joke – so that was pretty cool.”

However, it is the second one that stands out as the more traditional experience.

“The second one was really good,” Williams said. “We had a good game in Nipawin and Girod shot the puck and I just got the rebound and cleaned it up. I think it was to go up one in the game, so it was pretty good and a pretty cool experience.”

At the Holiday break, Williams leads all North Stars’ rookies and sits third overall in first-year scoring with 28 points (13 goals, 15 assists) in 30 games, most amongst 18-year-old (’05 birthdate) players.

Andrew Casellato – Oct. 14, 2023

Casellato’s first SJHL goal came Oct. 14 in La Ronge, cashing in for a power play goal in the third period, to pitch in, in what was a 6-2 North Stars’ win.

Despite opening his season with a four-game assist streak, Casellato said it was that first goal that marked a real benchmark in his first season in the league.

“I remember it was probably our eighth or ninth game of the season and I was pretty upset not to already have a goal. Sinclair made a nice pass over to [Ben] Portner on the power play and he found me backdoor, and I just tapped it in, so it didn’t take too much on my part,” the winger said with a laugh, before adding, “It’s something I won’t forget.”

In 21 games with the North Stars this year, Casellato sits fourth amongst Stars’ rookies, with nine points (three goals, six assists) at the holiday break.

Gavin Granger – Nov. 2, 2023

For first-year blue liner, Gavin Granger, his first in the SJHL came in the first game of November, in the Stars’ return to home ice following a three-game road swing.

Coming as the fourth goal for the home-side, in a 9-2 win over the Yorkton Terriers, the Saskatoon product can still recall the goal itself a lot more than the moments of jubilant excitement that followed in the celebration.

“It was kind of a messed-up play coming off the bench, and luckily enough the puck was coming out of our zone so I kind of jumped the gun a little bit, got it coming down the right side, and shot it short-side and lucky enough it went in,” he said as a smile crept onto his face.

“I was pretty fired up, I wanted a goal pretty bad and it was kind of a blur… A lot of adrenaline so I don’t remember too much about [the celebration],” he added with a laugh. “A lot of buddies I played on past hockey teams with and a lot of coaches texted me saying ‘congrats,’ so that was pretty nice.”

In 28 games this season, Granger has a goal and 32 penalty minutes, as a steadying presence on the North Stars’ backend.

With still 24 games to go in the SJHL regular season, there remains lots of time for the North Stars’ rookie class to continue to pick up milestones along the way, though there’s nothing quite like scoring that first career goal.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

North Stars’ rookies reflect on first goal milestones

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