North Stars graduating 20-year-olds reflect on their junior hockey careers

In his two seasons with the North Stars, Campbell had 112 points (51G-61A) in 107 total games and served as the team captain this season.

“If you looked at our team from afar, you wouldn’t think I was a captain because I was the guy who was getting picked on the most,” Campbell joked, but talked about how close the group got through the season.

“It was a lot of fun going to the rink. And yeah, I thought as soon as I get older, it’s going to be less fun to go to the rink, but it was kind of the opposite. So, it’s going to be tough to let these guys go.”

North Stars head coach Connor Logan had high praise for his captain. “There’s a lot to work with in his skill set and a very competitive kid that cares to win. He came in and embodied that work ethic early on and dictated a lot of how the practices were and really pushed younger guys to get on board,” said Logan. “He’s a very skilled, hardworking player and he’s really rubbed off on this program and on myself and the kind of team we’re going to be moving forward.”

Campbell has committed to SUNY Plattsburgh in New York for next season, and said that the biggest takeaway from this group and his junior career that he can bring to the next level is the competitive spirit.

“Out of the North Stars community, that’s what I learned is if you compete every single day and you try to get better every single day, you’re going to go far.”

Alessio Nardelli

(Image Credit: Byron Hildebrand Photography/Facebook)

Nardelli was acquired by the North Stars mid-season and immediately became a crucial part of the locker room.

“We have a lot of personalities in this room, and he did a really good job coming in and being that kind of relaxed, older player,” said Logan. “Never really fazed by much but could wrap up his emotions when he needed to on ice and very talented. You think about that transition period from development to kind of winning it, he was a big part of that.”

Nardelli played the first three seasons of his junior career with the Lloydminster Bobcats of the AJHL, totaling 56 points (19G-37A) in 120 games before he was traded to the North Stars in late Oct. 2025.

“I think it was the best thing for me. I made a lot of good friendships here, developed as a player. I had a good playoff run, and I think that all the 20-year-olds here had a great season,” said Nardelli. “Obviously ended a little early, but I had a great time and I think we gave everything we had.”

Nardelli was tied for the league lead in goals throughout first two rounds of the playoffs with eight goals in 12 games.

The North Stars assistant captain will join Campbell at SUNY Plattsburgh as they continue their hockey career together. As he moves on, Nardelli leaves a simple message to the 19-year-olds who will play in their final junior hockey year with the North Stars next season.

“Just realize how good a group they have and what they could get done here. So I think they just got to come back here, be leaders, and see what they have in this team.”

Josh Knittig

(Image Credit: Byron Hildebrand Photography/Facebook)

Knittig started his junior career with the Blackfalds Bulldogs of the AJHL/British Columbia Junior Hockey League (BCHL), with 14 points (6G-8A) in 67 games.

He joined the North Stars for the 2024-25 season and in two years in the Battlefords, had 96 points (32G-64A).

If there’s one thing that stood out with Knittig, it was the work he put in day in and day out with the squad.

“You can always count on his work ethic. He’s a very skilled player, but you’re never going to have to worry about him not bringing it. He comes to every game prepared, ready to play,” said Logan. “I was really impressed with just the level he was able to take it to through the playoffs. It was another level that we were confident that he could get to, but credit to him for truly taking it there.”

Through the first two rounds, Knittig led the playoffs in points with 21 (6G-15A) in 12 games.

On top of playing an elite level of hockey, Knittig built some lifetime friendships in his junior career.

“It was awesome. It honestly flew by. I don’t regret one year. I think every single year I found some buddies that I’ll have with my life forever. It’s just honestly what it’s all about. Building bonds and friendships that you’ll just have down the future,” Knittig said.

Gavin Granger

(Image Credit: Byron Hildebrand Photography/Facebook)

Granger was the only North Stars 20-year-old this season who spent all three of his junior seasons with the North Stars. In his three years, the North Stars blueliner put up 75 points (13G-62A) in 149 games.

“Gav’s another one of those guys who’s trying to be elite on a daily basis and had a great year,” said Logan. “Passionate kid, very vibrant, draws the guys in and a good leader.”

Granger said he came to the North Stars not really expecting what to expect, but says it’s been the best years of his life. “I’ve made so many good friends and have so many lifetime memories that will stick with me forever,” he said.

“This is the closest group of guys I’ve ever played with. The most fun that I’ve ever had in my life playing hockey. It was so much fun to be a part of. I was sad we didn’t get it done, but it was a fun ride.”

As the longest tenured North Star of the veterans, Granger has gotten to know all too well the support that the team gets from the community.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a Tuesday night against the worst team in the league or a Friday night against the best team in the league. We always have a pretty good crowd coming out. They supported us all the way through the end of the year this year and they’ve just always been unreal to us.”

As his junior career concludes, Granger said that his biggest message to the younger players is just to take it all in. “When I was a rookie, one of the 20-year-olds sat a couple of us down and told us to really enjoy it because it flies by pretty fast. You don’t really think about it in the moment, but looking back on it now, it really does fly by.”

Kaeden Serpa

(Image Credit: Byron Hildebrand Photography/Facebook)

The North Stars starting goaltender this season played in Junior B in British Columbia the pair of seasons prior to joining the North Stars.

Serpa played on the Campbell River Storm in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) last year when he got Logan’s attention when Logan was coaching the Victoria Cougars.

“Knew there was a competitive edge to him, knew that he was an athletic goalie with playoff experience, and that was what kind of drew me,” said Logan. “You want some guys that have that tenure that have that big moment experience, and he had that and wanted to be the lead guy and take the next step in his career going from Junior B to Junior A. He managed to make that transition effortlessly”

Serpa, who had a .917 save percentage and 3.11 goals against average with the North Stars this season, was thankful to Logan for the opportunity to make that jump.

“To come in here and be our starter from Junior B, it just shows how much trust Loges had of me through the whole process,” Serpa said. “I think the most was the trust I got from the coaches meant a lot to me this year. It’s one of my favorite years. This team we had, I don’t know, the run we went on the playoffs was insane.”

The goaltender said he couldn’t think of a better team to cap off his junior career with. “I think we were always tight, but down the stretch when we got in the playoffs, we just took that next step, which I think made us be able to go so deep in the playoffs.”

While teams are eligible to have eight 20-year-olds, the North Stars only had five. Those five players were vital to the squad’s success throughout the season. “We really tried to hone in on the right guys so that we could have a few more younger guys that could kind of get that experience from the older guys. They all embodied that elite competitiveness, pushing the pace at practices,” said Logan.

“All those 20s, they just get it. They understand the kind of conduct that you have on a daily basis in order to be an elite program. I owe all those guys a lot, for where we are and where we’re going to go.”

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Ryan.Lambert@pattisonmedia.com

by Ryan Lambert

North Stars graduating 20-year-olds reflect on their junior hockey careers

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