Jackson Allan and his North Stars' teammates will wrap up their three-game home stand Friday night as the team looks to extend their winning streak to eight straight. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

In search of eighth straight

North Stars host Broncos to open rivalry weekend

Jan 19, 2024 | 12:44 PM

Rivalry weekend kicks off at the Access Communications Centre Friday as the Battlefords North Stars host the Humboldt Broncos for a heavyweight tilt.

Two of the top four teams in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) this season, the North Stars and Broncos enter Friday’s contest separated by just three points in the league standings. Marking just the third meeting of the season series, the two sides split the opening two games, trading 2-1 shootout victories in their previous home-and-home, Oct. 20^th and 21^st.

The North Stars enter play first in the Nutrien Division and second overall in the league standings with a 26-7-2-1 record through 36 games. With 55 points, the team has been especially hot as of late, having won seven straight, with at least a single point in each of their last 12 games.

Humboldt sits just back of the North Stars, second in the division and fourth overall, with a 24-8-3-1 record. With 53 points the Broncos have won seven of their last 10, with just a single regulation loss over their last seven games (5-1-1-0).

Taking center stage heading into the weekend will be the incredible youth movement between the two teams as Humboldt and the Battlefords combine for each of the top five, and six of the top seven, in active rookie scoring in the SJHL this season.

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Broncos’ forward Travis Bryson paces all first-year players with 35 points, followed by defenceman Ben Costantino’s 31 in 31 games. Fellow Broncos’ blue liner, Connor Thue is tied for sixth in rookie points with 26, though he may not be in the lineup as he’s been out since Dec. 2 with an injury.

North Stars’ rookie standouts Rylan Williams and Brayden Sinclair have 28 points apiece, followed by Carson Olsen’s 26 in 35 games, to sit third through fifth among first-year players.

With how close the season series has been to date, special teams could play a vital factor in the weekend’s outcome.

Humboldt ranks first in the SJHL in both power play (26.4 percent) and penalty kill (84.8 percent) efficiency. The North Stars own the league’s third-most lethal man advantage (24.8 percent) and sixth-best penalty kill (80.2 percent).

In goal, it is also expected to be a showdown of two of the best between the pipes.

The North Stars are expected to start Logan Cunningham, who has been lights out since joining the team just prior to the holidays. Through five games, Cunningham is 5-0-0-0 with a 2.00 goals against average and a .934 save percentage.

The Broncos are likely to start Benjamin Motew after he received a night off Tuesday in Melville. Through 23 games, Motew is 15-5-2-1 with a 2.70 goals against average and a .911 save percentage.

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

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1