The Battlefords North Stars will take on the Kindersley Klippers on Friday in the last game of the regular season with a chance to clinch at least third place in the SJHL. (Image Credit: Ryan Lambert/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Ryan Lambert

HOME ICE ADVANTAGE

North Stars clinch home ice in first round with 8-5 win over the Kindersley Klippers

Mar 13, 2026 | 12:17 AM

The lowest the Battlefords North Stars can now finish is fourth place in the SJHL, ensuring home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs after an 8-5 win against the Kindersley Klippers. 

Kindersley was eliminated from playoff contention with the loss, leaving the Estevan Bruins and Humboldt Broncos as the final two teams fighting for the eighth and last playoff spot in the league. 

After the North Stars (34-15-4-2, 1st in Nutrien Division) took a penalty early in the game, they got on the board first when a returning Anthony Campbell got the puck in the slot before firing it past Klippers goaltender Mattias Radke to make it 1-0 North Stars at 3:47. 

Campbell’s goal was the North Stars league leading 14th shorthanded goal of the season. 

However, the Klippers (22-24-3-6, 2nd in Nutrien Division) got one back on the very same power play at 4:34 when a Jacob Dennis one timer from the point went over the net, bounced off the end glass and back out in front before going off of the North Stars and into the net. Dennis’ third of the season tied things up for the Klippers. 

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Later in the frame, the North Stars regained the lead when Will Kirwan slid a puck towards the net from the point which was deflected over Radke’s shoulder by Kobe Sawyer at 13:52. Sawyer’s 18th goal of the season and third in three games put the North Stars up 2-1. 

The North Stars got a power play opportunity late in the frame. For the first time in the season, they tried a power play unit made up of five forwards in Campbell alongside Josh Knittig, Alessio Nardelli, Finlay Klippenstein and Carter Geysen. 

It worked out when Geysen found Klippenstein in the slot, who found the back of the net. Klippenstein’s 25th goal of the season made it 3-1 North Stars in the final minute of the first period at 19:05. 

After one: 3-1 North Stars 

Just 1:51 into the period, Van Eger deflected a shot past Spencer Michnik to make things 3-2 North Stars with his 13th goal of the season. 

Nardelli got the two-goal lead right back for the North Stars at the 2:31 mark when he sniped the puck top shelf past the blocker of Radke to make it 4-2. 

A few minutes later at 5:28, Pryce Thiessen scored in tight on a rebound to get the Klippers back within a goal at 4-3. 

That didn’t last for long. A miscommunication behind the net led to the puck popping out in front with Radke behind the cage. Just before Radke could get back into position, Kaleb Dewar scored his 13th goal of the season to put the North Stars up 5-3 at 8:29. 

With a few minutes left to go in the second period, Owen Nelson scored the eventual game winning goal when he brought the puck from his own blue line into the offensive zone before scoring blocker side to make it 6-3 at 16:08. 

After two: 6-3 North Stars 

Over halfway through the frame at 11:17, Thiessen scored his second goal of the game, bouncing the puck off a North Stars player and into the net to make it 6-4.  

Thiessen’s goal improved the Klippers power play to 3/5 in the game, but Kindersley still needed two more to force overtime and keep their playoff hopes alive. 

Kindersley got another power play opportunity with about six minutes to go and desperate for a pair of goals, decided to pull the goalie. 

The North Stars made them pay when Campbell and Klippenstein both scored their second goals of the game into the empty net on the same penalty kill to make it 8-4. 

Hunter Motley got one back for Kindersley at 16:47, but they couldn’t get anything after that and fell short. 

Final score: 8-5 North Stars 

With the win, the North Stars ensured home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs, and the Klippers were eliminated from postseason contention. 

The two teams will face off again on Friday in the final game of the regular season. A North Stars win or overtime/shootout loss would ensure they finish in 3rd in the SJHL at the lowest. 

The Ultra Print pregame show begins at 7:00, Napa Auto Parts North Stars hockey at 7:30 on CJNB/CJNS. 

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Ryan.Lambert@pattisonmedia.com