The North Stars and Bombers played each other four times over the course of the regular season, with none of the four decided by more than a pair of goals. (BAT 1-2-1 in season series). (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Next Chapter begins

North Stars, Bombers to renew rivalry in Game 1 of semis

Apr 4, 2024 | 2:03 PM

The Battlefords North Stars return to the ice Thursday night in Flin Flon, to reignite one of the premier rivalries in junior hockey, with Game 1 of their semi-finals series with the top-seeded Flin Flon Bombers.

Both coming off first-round sweeps in the quarterfinals, the fourth-seeded North Stars beat the number-five Melville Millionaires 4-0 in a tightly-contested, defensive battle. The top-seeded Bombers ousted the eighth-place Klippers 4-0, in a series that featured just a single game within three goals at night’s end.

Head coach of the North Stars, Brayden Klimosko said the team’s complete buy-in defensively needed last series should only benefit the club in the semis as well, against the Bombers.

“We needed that test [against Melville],” Klimosko said. “We had to learn how to play some defence and stick to some details and I thought we did a really good job, so it only bodes well for this next series because we’re going to have to be detailed again. Flin Flon is a good team, they’re a high-octane team, so we’ll have to be ready to go.”

This will mark the sixth playoff series between the North Stars and Bombers since 2016, with the winning team going on/set to advance to the SJHL Finals each in each of the six years, resulting in three league championships (each won by the Battlefords, in 2023, 2019, and 2017).

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“It’s a great challenge and we’re excited about the matchup,” Klimosko said. “It seems like we see each other every year, so the rivalry I’m sure will be heated right off the start and it should be lots of fun.”

The 2024 rendition of the matchup will see 20 players (nine North Stars, 11 Bombers) from last year’s Finals series renew acquaintances.

Boasting no shortage of star power, the series will also feature five of the league’s top-seven scorers from the regular season. Kian Bell led all players with 94 points, while Bombers’ forwards Justin Lies (76 points), Jacob Vockler (73 points), and Alexi Sylvestre (72 points) sat fourth-through-sixth, and Ben Portner (69 points), finished seventh.

The series will also see the two hottest goaltenders from the opening round face off as well. Top Goaltender Award winner, Harmon Laser-Hume of the Bombers, leads the playoffs with a 0.75 goals against average and .975 save percentage. Logan Cunningham, of the North Stars, is second in both categories with a 1.71 goals against average and .940 save percentage.

A more in-depth look at some of the all-star players and how they match up heading into the series, can be found here.

Season stats at a glance

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

• Goals for: 254 (First)
• Goals against: 189 (Fifth)
• Power Play: 23.0 percent (Third)
• Penalty Kill: 80.4 percent (Fourth)
• Leading scorers: Kian Bell (94 points), Ben Portner (69 points), Brad Blake/Alex Izyk (56 points)
• X-Factor player to watch: Rylan Williams

Flin Flon Bombers; First seed in SJHL; 44-9-3 (91 points)

• Goals for: 244 (Third)
• Goals against: 129 (First)
• Power Play: 26.1 (First)
• Penalty Kill: 87.7 (First)
• Leading scorers: Justin Lies (76 points), Jacob Vockler (73 points), Alexi Sylvestre (72 points)
• X-Factor player to watch: Kylynn Olafson

Game 1 of the best-of-seven series Thursday will be available on 1050 CJNB. The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcast will begin with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 6 p.m. Saskatchewan time, with puck drop to follow at 6:30 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @MartyMartyPxP1