The North Stars play back-to-back games against the Kindersley Klippers this weekend to end off the regular season (Byron Hildebrand/Facebook).

By Austin Mattes

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Important games for North Stars against Klippers to end of regular season

Mar 14, 2025 | 1:21 PM

After dropping both games to the Flin Flon Bombers last weekend, the Battlefords North Stars now have their most important matchup of the season as they take on the Kindersley Klippers in their final two games of the regular season.

Tonight’s games will be at the Access Communications Centre and will be the final home game of the regular season for the North Stars, then tomorrow, Saturday, March 15, the North Stars will head to the Inter Pipeline Arena in Kindersley for the final game of the regular season.

Going into the games, the North Stars are seventh overall in the Sask. Junior Hockey League (SJHL) with 59 points and are just one point behind the Humboldt Broncos in sixth.

If the playoffs were to start today, Battlefords would be matched up against Flin Flon, who they have struggled against, going 1-3 against them this season. If the North Stars can win both games this weekend or win one and have Humboldt lose their final game, that would put the North Stars in sixth and they would play the Weyburn Red Wings, who they have gone 3-1 against this season.

The Klippers are coming into the weekend in eighth place and are also battling for a playoff spot as they are just three points ahead of the La Ronge Ice Wolves in ninth, meaning that they also desperately need a win to solidify their playoff hopes.

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The North Stars have played the Klippers six times already this season and are 2-4 against them but won the last two matchups back on Feb. 21 and Feb. 22.

Kindersley will look to their leading scorers Zakery Anderson and Mason Bueckert to do most of the damage offensively but it’s also top d-man, Jaxon Herchak, that the North Stars will really have to watch out for. Herchak has been the best player for the Klippers against the North Stars with two goals and six assists in their matchups this season. If Battlefords can do a good job containing him, along with Anderson and Bueckert, that will take away a lot of the Klippers star power.

For the North Stars, the biggest factor for them this weekend is having a full lineup and being disciplined. Over the past weeks, the North Stars haven’t had a consistent lineup with players coming in and out of injury, but if they can stay healthy and see most players in the lineup, that will do them a big favour. In terms of discipline, the North Stars just need to stay out of the box and not let the Klippers get under their skin.

Despite their penalty kill playing solid over the past few months, the North Stars need to make things as hard as possible for the Klippers and that starts with having all five skaters on the ice.

Overall, the North Stars have been playing good as of recently, but this weekend will ultimately come down to who wants it more and who works harder. Especially with so much on the line, Battlefords will need to play a full 60 minutes and not let their foot off the gas if they want to see success.

Both games this weekend are a 7:30 p.m. puck drop and you can catch all the action with the Napa Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast on CJNB/CJNS. Ultra Print pregame show starts at 7:00 p.m. on both nights.

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Austin.mattes@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @Austin Mattes