Ben Portner of the North Stars tangles up with Flin Flon's Kylynn Olafson earlier this season. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Semi-finals set

North Stars/Bombers set to clash for star-studded series

Apr 3, 2024 | 4:30 PM

With the official wrap-up of the of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) quarterfinals Tuesday night, the matchups are now set for the league semis to begin Thursday, with the top four teams determined.

The #4 Battlefords North Stars will play the #1 Flin Flon Bombers, while the #3 Humboldt Broncos face the #2 Melfort Mustangs.

Marking the sixth time the North Stars and Bombers have clashed for a playoff series since 2016, much like past renditions, this year’s matchup will again be headlined by a number of the league’s biggest names facing off.

Offensive dynamos: Kian Bell vs. Justin Lies

Two of the purest game-breakers in the league this season, Kian Bell of the North Stars and Justin Lies of the Bombers spent much of the year battling it out for the scoring lead. Lies paced all players through essentially the entire first half of the year, until Bell pulled even in the final game ahead of the Christmas break, to each head into the New Year tied at a league-high 55 points apiece.

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Finishing the regular season first and fourth in points (Bell with 94, Lies with 76) and second and third in goals (Lies with 41 and Bell with 37), the pair were two of the three finalists for SJHL Forward of the Year, which Bell won for a second-consecutive year.

While both elite offensive contributors, the method by which they dominate could not be more different stylistically, similar to a Nikita Kucherov vs. Nathan MacKinnon comparison amongst NHL players.

Bell, a slight 5-10, 175 -pound winger, and left-hand-shot, plays a cerebral game. He uses his elite hockey sense and vision to process the play like a supercomputer and find the open option, equally adept at making a pinpoint pass or lasering a shot past the goalie.

Lies, a 6-1, 192-pound centerman, uses a brash explosiveness to dictate the play in his favour. Possessing a much more aggressive and in-your-face style, his snapshot is heavy and hard, shooting off his blade.

Blue line behemoths: Noah Houle vs. Alex Izyk

Two of the three finalists for Top Defenceman in the SJHL this season, Houle took home the distinction, leading all at the position with 68 points in 52 games, followed by Izyk’s 56 in 50 games.

Both as lethal as they come from the backend, once again, the two use contrasting styles with which they operate.

Both extremely efficient at finding the open man, Izyk is a lot more prone to leading the offensive rush and making defenders miss with his dazzling stickhandling ability. Houle is more opportunistic in his approach, often opting to creep down into the high-slot area or join the offensive rush as the late man.

Houle’s 36 power play points were most amongst blue liners this year, while Izyk’s 33 points at even-strength were also a league-high for defencemen.

Two-way wizards: Ben Portner vs. Jacob Vockler

If the first two matchups highlighted a contrast of styles, Portner and Vockler represent two center icemen cut from the same cloth.

Both are amongst the elite point-producers in the league, as Vockler’s 73 points finished fifth, and Portner’s 69 points, seventh. Both also headline the shortlist of shiftiest players with the puck on their stick, and most dangerous when it comes to stealing it away off opposing players.

Both excellent playmakers of a similar build (Vockler, 5-11, 160 pounds; Potner 5-10, 170), and as creative as they come one-on-one, the two could see a lot of each other throughout the series, as a pair of guys relied upon heavily in all game situations.

Between the Pipes: Harmon Laser-Hume vs. Logan Cunningham

Two extremely athletic goaltenders coming off incredible first-round performances, both Laser-Hume and Cunningham enter the semi-finals playing their best hockey of the season.

The two sit first and second in both goals against average (GAA) and save percentage, as Laser-Hume leads both stats with a 0.75 GAA and a .957 save percentage, while Cunningham has posted a 1.17 GAA and .940 save percentage. Both are 4-0 this post-season, after backstopping their teams to first-round sweeps.

Laser-Hume, who was named the SJHL’s Top Goaltender this year, and Cunningham, who was arguably the hottest puck-stopper heading into the playoffs, will both need to continue to bring their best to thwart the offensive firepower both teams possess.

North Stars vs. Bombers series schedule:

Game 1: Thursday, April 4 @ Whitney Forum, FF (6:30 p.m. SK time

Game 2: Friday, April 5 @ Whitney Forum, FF (6:30 p.m. SK time)

Game 3: Monday, April 8 @ Access Communications Centre, BAT (7:30 p.m.)

Game 4: Tues, April 9 @ Access Communications Centre, BAT (7:30 p.m.)

*Game 5: Friday, April 12 @ Whitney Forum, FF (6:30 p.m.)

*Game 6: Sunday, April 14 @ Access Communications Centre, BAT (7:30 p.m.)

*Game 7: Tuesday, April 16 @ Whitney Forum, FF (6:30 p.m.)

*If needed.

All games will be available via the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcast on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin 30 minutes prior to puck drop each game.

*Editors note: The article originally said Games 3 and 4 would be played in North Battleford Tues and Wed., but that has been changed to Monday and Tuesday.

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1