Stars’ forward, Matthias Urbanski picked up two goals and a helper in the last meeting between the Stars and Red Wings back on Oct. 5. The game-breaking forward will look to make a similar impact Saturday as the teams come together at the Civic Centre.. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Stars, WIngs collide

North Stars roll into Saturday, looking to take off versus Wings

Nov 23, 2019 | 2:00 PM

Following a nine-day layoff between games heading into the weekend, the Battlefords North Stars are now right back into the swing of things as the team will return to action for the second time in as many nights at the Civic Centre.

Following Friday’s thrilling 6-3 win over Estevan, the Stars will now shift their collective focus to another of their Southern Saskatchewan foes, the Weyburn Red Wings.

Weyburn sit second in the Viterra Division and ninth overall in the league, at 10-16-1.

The Red Wings will have their work cut out for them against a North Stars team who at 23-2 sit a whopping 25 points ahead of them in the standings, while still holding two games in-hand.

That being said, the Red Wings will undoubtedly be hungry to bounce back from a tough 6-4 loss Friday against Kindersley, and correct a slide that has seen the team drop seven of their last 10 games.

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Weyburn is led in virtually every statistical category by their captain, Ben Hiltz.

A skilled big man at 6’3, 185 lbs., Hiltz’ 10 goals, 11 assists and 21 points are all team-bests through 27 games.

Alongside their leader, first-year standout, Braden Birnie has also been amongst the team’s bright spots this year. Birnie sits top-10 in rookie scoring with 14 points on the year.

Those two will likely need to need to lead the way if Weyburn is to find success on the night against the North Stars. Hiltz is the lone Wing to top double digits in goals, while he and Birnie are two of just four on the roster to have scored at least 10 points on the campaign.

Because of their offensive struggles, the Red Wings rank last in the league in goal scoring, having produced just 54 goals through 27 games, or exactly 2.0 goals per-game.

The Stars, by contrast, have scored more than any team this season. With 113 goals through 25 games, the team is averaging just under five goals per-contest.

Stars’ forward, Brett Gammer sits sixth in team scoring with 22 points in 24 games, and leads the Battlefords into action following a two-goal, three-point effort Friday against Estevan.

Blue liner, Seth Summers also picked up a goal and a helper a night ago, and enters play tied for fourth in defenceman scoring with 20 points through 24 games this season.

Together with defence-partner, Matthew Fletcher (27 points), the Stars’ dynamic duo on the back end have racked up more points than any rearguard tandem in the league, combining for an unprecedented 47 points between them this year.

In net, 18-year-old, Austin Schwab will get the start for the Stars for the second-straight night this weekend. The game will mark Schwab’s first back-to-back appearance this season.

Through five games this year, Schwab has picked up five wins while posting a sparkling 1.98 goals-against average and .932 save percentage.

In the Weyburn goal, rookie netminders Noah Decottignies and Joseph Young will likely draw for the short straw to see who gets the start against the high-octane Battlefords’ offence.

Decottignies was given the nod in the last game of the season-series back on Oct. 5, stopping 28 of 31 North Stars’ shots. He was, however, pulled last night after allowing three goals on 12 shots against Kindersley. Young allowed two on 10 shots-against in relief.

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

North Stars lineup

Forwards:

A. Becker, Q. Loon-Stewardson, E. Loon-Stewardson

M. Urbanski, D. Prymak, R. Nivon

S. Kesslering, B. Gammer, D. Esau

C. Reagan, K. Boser, L. Spence

Defencemen:

S. Summers, M. Fletcher

N. Form, D. McCabe

J. Gagnon, T. Prexler

Goaltenders:

A. Schwab

P. Rey

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1