Kian Bell has continued to turn heads across the SJHL this season, currently in the midst of another MVP-calibre season donning the North Stars' crest. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW)

By Martin Martinson

Making Headlines

North Stars’ Bell enjoying repeat season for the ages

Jan 18, 2024 | 4:30 PM

Coming off a dominant first season in the Battlefords last year, which saw him sweep the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Awards winning both league MVP and Player of the Year honours, Battlefords North Stars’ forward, Kian Bell has somehow taken his game to yet another level this season.

With another four points Wednesday night to lead the North Stars to a 5-3 win over Estevan, Bell is now once again tied for the SJHL scoring lead with Flin Flon’s Justin Lies, despite having played 10 fewer games, with 55 points (24 goals, 31 assists) in just 23 games.

“He’s a wizard,” linemate Brad Blake said with a smile, shaking his head. “It seems like he doesn’t have very much time and space, and all of a sudden, the puck’s in the back of the net. He’s a special hockey player and he’s done some special things again this year.”

Bell’s 2.39 points per game are remarkably up from his 2.00 averaged last season, on his way to a league-high 54 goals and 102 points in just 51 games.

After starting the year with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League, Bell returned to the North Stars to make his season debut with the club just in time for their three-game southern swing Oct. 26-28.

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Hitting the ground running from the drop of the puck in his season debut, Bell notched three assists against Weyburn in his first game, before then scoring four goals of his own the following night in Estevan, and adding a goal and two helpers in the rematch with the Red Wings.

From there, the dynamic winger has never looked back. Of his first 23 games, 17 have been multi-point performances, including 13 where he’s scored at least three or more points.

More than just numbers on a stat sheet, Bell’s impact has also been reflected by the North Stars’ meteoric rise in the SJHL standings. At the time of his arrival, the North Stars were 6-5-0-1 on the season through their opening 12 games. Since Bell’s arrival, the team is 20-2-2-0, now sitting second overall in the league standings, on a current seven-game winning streak.

Head coach Brayden Klimosko said while the numbers may headline his remarkable season, they are just the tip of the iceberg in what #27 brings to the team.

“It’s not just the games that he’s special, it’s every day in practice; you watch a guy like that, and it just makes everyone else perform better,” Klimosko said. “I think that’s been so great, for our young guys to get to see what it takes to be an elite-level player like Kian, and I think it’s shown in the results we’ve had the last couple of months.”

While Bell’s numbers are sure to continue to climb down the stretch of the regular season, the 20-year-old has his sights set on another lengthy playoff run with the team this spring.

“It’s team first. I’d love to go to another Centennial Cup in my last year, and I know everybody in [that locker room] wants to too,” Bell said. “We really believe in ourselves and we think we can beat any team in this league.”

Bell and his North Stars’ teammates will return to action this weekend for a home-and-home with the division rival Humboldt Broncos. Friday’s game will be a 7:30 p.m. start in North Battleford, with Saturday’s a 7 p.m. start in Humboldt. The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcast will be available both nights on 1050 CJNB, with the Ultra Print Pregame Show starting 30 minutes prior to puck drop each night.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1