The North Stars play their final two games of 2024 this weekend against the Kindersley Klippers. (Byron Hildebrand/Facebook)

By Austin Mattes

North Stars Week Preview

Big weekend ahead for North Stars before the Christmas break

Dec 17, 2024 | 12:11 PM

After splitting games against the Flin Flon Bombers this past weekend, the Battlefords North Stars are now second overall in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), boasting a 15-8-3-2 record for 35 points. But with only six points separating them from the ninth spot in the league, their final two games before the Christmas break against the Kindersley Klippers this weekend will be crucial to keep them in the playoff picture.

Kindersley is currently tied for sixth overall in the league with a 14-15-1 record and this will be the third and fourth meeting between the two teams, with the first two being a sweep for Kindersley at the beginning of the season.

The Klippers top forwards this season have been Zakery Anderson, Shane Tibbles, Will Christian and Dawson Karol. These four together have combined for 39 of the teams 97 goals and have also combined for 40 assists. Kindersley will need to see big results from these guys if they want to have a chance to win and beat Justen Maric in between the pipes.

One of Kindersley’s most noticeable contributors though has been on the defensive end in Colorado College commit and ’07 born, Jaxon Herchak. Herchak has been tearing it up in his rookie campaign, already grabbing two goals and 17 assists in 25 games. He also was chosen to represent Team Canada West in the World Junior A Challenge that just finished last week in Camrose, AB.

For the North Stars, their offense has been some of the best in the league, currently second in goals scored with 104 and with 11 players in double digit points and five players with 20 or more points, they can find the back of the net on any given night.

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If the North Stars want to get the total four points this weekend, the one area they will need to step up on is the defensive end. Despite having the second most goals scored, they are second last in goals against with 103. Even with Justen Maric playing as great as he has been, the back end will need to help him out and limit the number of threatening chances he faces. If they are able to do that, Battlefords will have nothing to worry about against the Klippers.

The games this week will be on Friday, Dec 20 and Saturday, Dec 21. Friday night’s game will be in Kindersley and Saturday will be at the Access Communications Centre. Puck drop for both nights is at 7:30 p.m. and you can listen to the games on CJNB/CJNS with the Napa Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast, starting with the Ultra Print pregame show at 7:00 p.m.

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Austin.mattes@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @AustinMattes