North Stars forward, Rylan Williams faces off with Melville's Felix Beauchemin. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Back in the Battlefords

North Stars host Millionaires in search of 10th straight

Jan 23, 2024 | 4:07 PM

Coming off back-to-back wins over the weekend against Humboldt, the Battlefords North Stars return to action Tuesday night at the Access Communications Centre, as the team look to remain red-hot in search of a 10th straight win.

The first night of what will mark a six-game home stand for the North Stars, the team will be looking to answer back against a Melville club that has won each of the first two games of the season series, Sept. 30 and Dec. 2.

The North Stars enter play first in the Nutrien Division and second overall in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) standings, with a 28-7-2-1 record through 38 games. With 59 points, the North Stars have played some of their best hockey as of late, now just seven points back of first-place Flin Flon.

Melville enter the evening first in the Viterra Division and fifth overall in the league standings, having won five of their last six, with an 18-16-0-0 record through 34 games. With 36 points, the Mills lead a tightly-congested playoff race, tied in points with sixth-place Nipawin and seventh-place Kindersley, with Weyburn and Estevan in eighth and ninth, each just a single point back with 35 on the season.

Head coach of the North Stars, Brayden Klimosko said with things still so wide open in the playoff race, his team have to be ready to start on time against a hungry Millionaires squad looking to stay ahead of the pack.

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“Points are at a premium right now and Melville’s been hot as of late, so it won’t be easy,” Klimosko said. “They’re going to be desperate, and we’re going to need our best tonight.”

The North Stars are led into play by one of the most dynamic duos in the SJHL, in forwards Kian Bell and Ben Portner.

Arguably the two hottest players in the league as of late, Bell returns to the North Stars’ lineup Tuesday following a one-game absence, coming off back-to-back four-point games in his last two appearances. Bell enters the week as the league scoring leader, with 59 points (26 goals, 33 assists) in just 24 games.

Portner enters play with an incredible eight goals and 14 points over his last four games, having scored at least two goals and three points in each of his last four. Now with 49 points (18 goals, 31 assists) through 35 games, to sit sixth in the league scoring race, Portner was recently recognized for his game-breaking efforts named as the SJHL MVP of the Week.

Melville’s Eliott Mikesch was also recognized in the recent Players of the Week announcement, as the league’s Rookie of the Week. A recent Millionaires’ acquisition at the trade deadline from Grande Prairie of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, Mikesch is coming off three straight multi-point games last week, with three goals and six points on his current streak.

In goal, the North Stars will give the nod to Logan Cunningham to make his sixth start in the team’s last eight games. Cunningham enters play 6-0-0-0 with a 2.33 goals against average and 2.33 goals against average.

Melville are likely to start William Dyke, after giving him the night off against Notre Dame last Saturday. Dyke has been a workhorse for the Millionaires this season, having played 24 of the team’s 34 games, posting a 14-10-0-0 record, with a 3.26 goals against average and .903 save percentage.

Tuesday’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