Jackson Allan of the North Stars, and Caden Drury of the Millionaires are sure to see a lot of each other this first round, as two heavily-relied upon centermen for their respective sides. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Playoffs begin

North Stars host Millionaires for Game 1 of first-round series

Mar 22, 2024 | 1:37 PM

North Battleford’s Access Communications Centre will be rocking Friday for the opening night of the 2024 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) playoffs, as the Battlefords North Stars host the Melville Millionaires for Game 1 of their first-round series.

The North Stars enter the postseason as the fourth seed overall in the league standings, finishing the regular season with a 36-15-5 record for 77 points. The fifth-seeded Millionaires finished the year 12 points back, with a 32-23-1 record for 65 points, though any perceived edge heading into the series is lessened by a Melville advantage in the regular season series which saw the team win three of the four matchups between the two sides.

The lone series in the opening round featuring a showdown of two three-time SJHL Coach of the Year winners, in Battlefords’ bench-boss Brayden Klimosko (2020, 2022, 2023) and Melville’s Doug Johnson (2012, 2017, 2018), the series will be a clash of styles, as the North Stars’ fast-paced transition game meets the stifling defence-first approach of the Millionaires.

“They’re the hardest-working team in the league and their structure is as tight as any in the league, so for us to win, we’re simply going to have to outwork them,” Klimosko said of the key for his side heading in. “Melville will be ready to go and they’ll both be amped up looking to get that first one too, so I think it’s important that we’re ready to go, to match their energy and enthusiasm.”

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The North Stars enter the playoffs as the highest-scoring team from the regular season, with their 254 goals averaging just over 4.53 goals per game. Melville, by contrast, allowed the fourth-fewest goals-against, with their 179 goals allowed averaging out to just under 3.2 against per contest.

The North Stars’ offense is spearheaded by first-ever back-to-back SJHL MVP, Kian Bell, and top-line centreman, Ben Portner. Bell’s 94 points (37 goals, 57 assists) in just 41 games led the league in scoring, while Portner’s 69 points (28 goals, 41 assists) in 50 games were seventh overall in the scoring race.

However, what’s made the Stars’ offense as lethal as it has been this year, is their depth of scoring throughout the lineup, with a league-high 11 players to have scored at least 30 points. For context, Melville – a team who relied heavily on scoring by committee with just a single 50-point scorer – finished with seven 30-point scorers in their own right, tied for third-most in the league.

In goal, the North Stars will give the starter’s nod to Logan Cunningham for the series opener. In 17 games, Cunningham posted a 13-3-0 record with a 3.44 goals against average and a .894 save percentage. Playing some of his best hockey of the season of late, the Edmonton, AB., product is coming off SJHL Goaltender of the Week honours for the final week of the regular season.

At the other end, William Dyke has been a workhorse for the Millionaires all season, playing 40 of the team’s 56 games, on his way to posting a 24-13-1 record with a 2.88 goals against average and .908 save percentage. Dyke also enters the post-season red-hot, having won six straight, while allowing just two goals or fewer in six of his last seven games.

Stats at a glance

Battlefords North Stars; 4^th seed in SJHL; 36-15-5 (77 points)

• Goals for: 254 (1^st)
• Goals against: 189 (5^th)
• Power Play: 23.0 percent (3^rd)
• Penalty Kill: 80.4 percent (4^th)
• Leading scorers: Kian Bell (94 points), Ben Portner (69 points), Brad Blake/Alex Izyk (56 points)
• X-Factor player to watch: Jordan Grill

Melville Millionaires; 5^th seed in SJHL; 23-23-1 (65 points)

• Goals for: 183 (8^th)
• Goals against: 179 (4^th)
• Power Play: 16.9 percent (10^th)
• Penalty Kill: 77.2 percent (9^th)
• Leading scorers: Caden Drury (52 points), Luc Bydal (47 points), Jadon Iyogun (44 points)
• X-Factor player to watch: Gaborik Carlson

Game 1 of the best-of-seven series Friday will be available on 1050 CJNB. The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcast will begin with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7 p.m., with puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @MartyMartyPxP1