The North Stars take on division rival Humboldt Broncos in back-to-back games this weekend (Byron Hildebrand/Facebook).

By Austin Mattes

North Stars Week Preview

Final clash between North Stars and Broncos this weekend

Feb 12, 2025 | 12:38 PM

After getting four out of the possible six points last week, the Battlefords North Stars now have a crucial weekend ahead as they take on the Humboldt Broncos in back-to-back games for their final matchup against each other this season.

With only 11 games left in the regular season, the North Stars are 22-18-3-2 for 49 points, tying them with Humboldt and Melville but are seventh overall in the standings due to having less regulation wins. The Kindersley Klippers aren’t far behind either in eighth place, only two points away from Battlefords with 47.

Going into this weekend, the Broncos lead the season series 4-2 over the North Stars and in their last matchups against each other on Jan.31 and Feb. 1, Humboldt won a convincing 5-2 and 10-3.

The SJHL standings as of Feb. 12, 2025 (Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League/Wesbite).

The biggest problem the North Stars have been facing recently, especially in their past five games, is getting out to good starts. In four of their last five, the North Stars have found themselves down after one period of play, and looking at it statistically, Battlefords is 2-14-0-1 when trailing after the first period this season. So, if the team wants to walk away with some points this weekend, coming out strong defensively and getting some early goals will be crucial.

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Then when it comes to the personnel of the Broncos, the player the North Stars need to watch out for is the league’s leading point getter and Broncos leading goal scorer, Jacob Strizzi. In the six games against Battlefords this season, Strizzi has been the most lethal, notching nine goals and eight assists. Of course, the Broncos have lots of other strong offensive weapons like Marik Mamic and Kye Benoche, but if the North Stars can limit Strizzi as much as possible, it will take away a good amount of the Broncos offence and make it easier to get in the win column.

For the North Stars, apart from coming out to a good start, they will need look to the team’s leading goal scorers, Nikita Ivashchenko and Anthony Campbell to deal some damage offensively. Both Campbell and Ivashchenko are coming into this weekend on five game goal streaks and without a doubt have been the hot hand of the team. That being said, Battlefords can’t only rely on them; they will need to see some of the other goal scorers on the team, which they have a lot of, step up and make some plays.

In terms of defence, Battlefords just needs to play physical and use their size to set the tone early and then continue with it throughout the game to wear the Broncos down.

The games this weekend will be on Friday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 15.

Friday’s games will be at the Access Communications Centre with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday’s game will be at the Elgar Petersen Arena in Humboldt with puck drop at 5 p.m.

Tune into the games with the Napa Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast on CJNB/CJNS with Ultra Print Pregame Show starting 30 minutes prior to puck drop on both nights.

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Austin.mattes@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @AustinMattes