Stars’ forward Brett Gammer will line up tonight alongside his usual running mate, Austin Becker and newest North Star, Hunter Partsch in a line that should provide energy and scoring spark for the team. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Battling the beast

North Stars look to bring the heat against Ice Wolves

Oct 25, 2019 | 2:00 PM

After nearly a full week off since their last game Saturday, the Battlefords North Stars will return to action Friday night at the Civic Centre, as the team welcomes the La Ronge Ice Wolves to town.

Friday’s matchup will mark the first of back-to-back games for the Stars against La Ronge this weekend. The team enters play with a league-best 15-1 record, and perfect 3-0 record against the Ice Wolves through the opening three games of the season-series.

On the other side, the Ice Wolves are 7-9-2 on the year. Much tougher an opponent than their record may indicate, La Ronge opened the season 0-5, but have battled back with a 7-4-2 record since.

Friday will mark the forth meeting between the Stars and Ice Wolves this season. Despite the familiarity between the two sides, the Stars’ offensive attack may look a bit different than that of earlier this year.

Forward Matthias Urbanski, who was nicked up midway through last Saturday’s game against Nipawin, will also miss Friday’s contest with a lower body injury.

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Clicking along at a point-per-game clip this season with six goals, 16 points through 16 games, Urbanski’s absence will be felt in the Stars’ lineup.

With the dynamic forward held out of action, Swiss army knife, Rylan Nivon will showcase his versatility and shift from his usual spot on the right wing alongside Brett Gammer and Austin Becker, to the left side to fill in alongside Quintin and Elijah Loon-Stewardson.

Nivon who sits second in team scoring with 19 points joined the Loon-Stewardson tandem midway through last game against the Hawks. Upon joining the line, the chemistry between the trio paid dividends immediately.

Nivon, Quintin and Elijah Loon-Stewardson combined for six points engineering all three Stars’ goals in the third period as the team came back from an 0-2 hole, to take the contest 3-2. The three will hope to pick up on that magic Friday.

With Nivon shifted onto the other top unit, the 1A line, featuring Gammer and Becker will see a new variation on the opposite wing as well.

Forward Hunter Partsch joins the duo, as the 18-year-old will make his North Stars’ debut tonight.

Partsch, who left Stars’ camp early in the preseason after taking a slap shot in the facial area, brings another bright young offensive weapon to the fold for the Battlefords.

Partsch split last season between Team Maryland of the Atlantic Youth Hockey League (AYHL 18U) and Westmont Hilltop High of the United States High School, Pennsylvania League (USHS-PA). In 22 games with Maryland, Partsch registered 17 goals, 29 points, before adding another 24 goals and 32 points in just 16 games with Westmont.

Led by their top top lines, the Stars enter the weekend with the top-ranked offense in the league, having scored 66 goals through their opening 16 games, for an average of 4.5 goals per-game.

La Ronge will have their work cut out for them if the team is to find success Friday, as the Ice Wolves have struggled to keep the puck out of their net. The team has allowed 64 goals-against through 18 contests.

If the Ice Wolves are to stymie the Stars’ attack, they will need another solid showing between the pipes.

Liam McGarva will likely get the nod for La Ronge Friday. The 19-year-old has faced a lot of rubber against the North Stars, having stopped over 40 shots in each of his two prior starts against the team this season

McGarva has won six of his 12 games, while posting a 3.04 goals-against average and .914 save percentage.

At the other end, Adam Dmyterko will get the start for the home side. Dmyterko has posted a perfect 10-0 record this season, along with a sparkling 2.17 goals-against average and .933 save percentage.

Friday’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:

R. Nivon, Q. Loon-Stewardson, E. Loon-Stewardson

A. Becker, B. Gammer, H. Partsch

K. Boser, S. Kesslering, D. Esau

D. Prymak, R. McNinch, L. Spence

Defencemen:

N. Form, D. McCabe

S. Summers, M. Fletcher

J. Gagnon, W. Somers

Goaltenders:

A. Dmyterko

P. Rey

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1