Coming off their first loss of the season Tuesday in Yorkton, the Battlefords North Stars will be looking to regroup quickly and make the most of their opportunity to get back on the winning track Wednesday night in Melville. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Back to business

North Stars hope hard work pays off versus Millionaires

Oct 2, 2019 | 2:00 PM

The Battlefords North Stars head to Melville Wednesday night to take on the Millionaires at Horizon Credit Union Centre.

After a perfect 7-0 start to the season, the Stars will be looking to bounce back from their first test of adversity last night, as the team fell 6-2 to the Yorkton Terriers in Yorkton.

Despite the loss, the Stars remain the toast of the league at 7-1. Leading all teams in goals scroed with 41, and sitting third in goals-against with 20, the team’s plus-21 goal differential is nearly double that of second place Nipawin at plus-11.

Melville on the other hand, sit atop the Vitera Division with a 2-2-3 record, and will be looking to bounce back onto the winning track in their own right. The Money Men have sported an 0-2-2 record over their last four games.

Melville are led up front by rookie forward Nic Porterfield who paces the Millionaires in both goals (eight) and points (11).

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Defending Rookie of the Year, Luke Spadafora and fellow forward Luke Nkwama offer added punch up front, while defenceman James Philpott leads all blue liners in production with nine points in seven games.

While much of the North Stars’ lineup Wednesday will be left to be determined ahead of puck drop, the Stars’ offensive firepower will be led once again by forwards Quintin Loon-Stewardson (13 points), Austin Becker (11 points), Rylan Nivon (nine points) and Matthias Urbanski (nine points).

The four lead the Stars in point production through eight games, while also spreading out the scoring throughout the top six forward units.

Stars’ forwards Quintin Loon-Stewardson (#22) and Matthias Urbanski (#12) have been red hot as of late, as the pair will likely feature in as prominent fixtures in the Stars’ offensive scheme once again Wednesday evening. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

On the back end, the top two pairings made up of defencemen Matthew Fletcher and Seth Summers, and Noah Form and Dylan McCabe will likely take turns matching up against the top offensive line of the Millionaires.

Likely the biggest change for the Stars heading into Wednesday will come between the pipes.

Goaltender Austin Schwab is slated to make his North Stars’ debut Wednesday, as the Snohomish, WA., product will get his first career start in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL).

Stars’ goalie Austin Schwab will make his Stars’ debut with the team Wednesday night in Melville. Schwab, the son of former NHL goalie and North Battleford product Corey Schwab, impressed through camp and brings a calming presence to his teammates between the pipes. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Schwab is coming off a high school season for the books. The 18-year-old posted a 1.62 goal-against average.930 save percentage in 13 games played with Pinnacle High 1 of the United States High School League in Arizona.

Wednesday’s game will be broadcast on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7:15 p.m. with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. on NAPA North Stars Hockey.

North Stars lineup

Forwards:

M. Urbanski, Q. Loon-Stewardson, E. Loon-Stewardson

A. Becker, B. Gammer, R. Nivon

TBD, K. Boser, D. Esau

TBD, TBD, TBD

Defencemen:
N. Form, D. McCabe

S. Summers, M. Fletcher

TBD, TBD

Goaltenders:

A. Schwab

A. Dmyterko

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1