The winner of tonight's game will take the lead in the Nutrien Division. (Byron Hildebrand Photography/Facebook)

By Ryan Lambert

Battlefords North Stars

North Stars will cap off 2025 with a clash for the division lead vs Klippers

Dec 31, 2025 | 12:11 PM

In their first game since Dec. 20 against Flin Flon, the Battlefords North Stars (15-8-2-2, second in Nutrien Division) have a New Years Eve contest with the Kindersley Klippers (14-9-2-5, first in Nutrien Division). Kindersley holds a one-point lead on the North Stars for the division lead, so the winner of tonight’s game will head into the New Year atop the Nutrien Division.

Both teams are missing some key players. On the North Stars side, Captain and centre Anthony Campbell as well as defenceman and assistant captain Gavin Granger are with team SJHL at the Viking Cup in Camrose, Alberta. For the Klippers, defenceman Russ Demo and forward Van Eger are in Camrose, so they won’t be in the lineup.

The North Stars currently hold the lead in the season series 2-1 over the Klippers. After Kindersley won the season opener between the two teams, the North Stars took the last two contests. In their last matchup, the North Stars won 4-3 in the shootout on Nov. 10 when Gavin Granger had the shootout winning goal.

Out of any team in the Nutrien Division, the North Stars have been the hottest team out of the bunch recently. They are 7-3-0-0 in their last 10, while the Klippers 4-6-0-0 although both teams are coming off a loss.

In their last contest against the Flin Flon Bombers, the North Stars fell 6-3 for a weekend split on Dec. 13. The Klippers lost 5-2 to the Nipawin Hawks in their last game on Dec. 14.

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During the Christmas break, defenceman Sebastian Miles signed with the Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL. With that signing and Granger at the Viking Cup, the North Stars are shorthanded on the blue line, so they are calling up affiliate player and AAA Stars defenceman Lukamas Lehman. In 25 games this season, Lehman has 15 points (5g-10a) in 25 games in U18 AAA.

Leading the way in points for the Klippers this season is Avery Johnson, who has 34 points (12g-22a) in 30 games. Next up are Rielen Wieler and Brock Evans, who have 22 and 21 points each.

Without Campbell and Granger, the North Stars are missing their #1 and #3 point scorers. Otherwise, Josh Knittig is #2 on the team in points with 26 (8g-18a) in 26 games, while Finlay Klippenstein has 24 points (16g-8a) in 24 games. Klippenstein’s 16 goals leads the team and league rookies.

The North Stars have an opportunity to take the lead in the Nutrien Division to end off 2025 in the first half of a New Years back-to-back. The Ultra Print pregame show begins at 7 p.m. Saskatchewan time, while Napa Auto Parts North Stars hockey has puck drop at 7:30 on CJNB/CJNS.

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Ryan.Lambert@pattisonmedia.com