The Battlefords North Stars added to their pipeline of young, skilled players Friday, making eight selections at the SJHL Annual Bantam Draft. (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Next generation Stars

North Stars bolster pipeline with eight selections in Bantam Draft

Jun 5, 2020 | 5:54 PM

It was a successful day at the draft table for the Battlefords North Stars Friday.

The Stars made eight selections at the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) Annual Bantam Draft, including seven forwards and one defenceman.

Forward Joshua Zakreski was the team’s first pick at the tail end of the first round, followed by Josh Knittig and Jace Bymoen, who were taken with the club’s next two subsequent selections.

Gavin Granger was the lone rearguard drafted by the Stars, and served as one of three fourth round selections, along with Ashtyn Shields and Tyson Yaremko. Then in rounds five and six, Roper Blanchard and Clark Furman closed out the day’s picks.

Head scout with the North Stars, Wylie Riendeau, said the organization couldn’t have asked for a better draft day.

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“I think we’re very happy with how it went,” he said. “A lot of the guys we thought might go higher kind of fell to us and it was nice to see. I think we got pretty lucky today, and you don’t usually get that lucky on draft day, so I think it was a good day for the Stars, that’s for sure.”

Riendeau said he likes the mix of skill, size and grit the team added to the pipeline.

“We had quite a few defencemen on our list for the next couple of years, so we figured we’d kind of go forward-heavy,” he said. We got some skill with some of the smaller guys like Zakreski and Knittig, and then added some size with guys like Furman and Bymoen and Blanchard, so I think it was a pretty good day overall.”

North Stars’ draft summary by round

Round 1, 12^th overall: Joshua Zakreski

Position: Forward

Shoots: Left

Birthdate: Dec. 17, 2005 (Age 14)

Hometown: Saskatoon, Sask.

2019-20 Team: Saskatoon Maniacs Bantam AA (SBAAHL)

Stat line: 31GP, 32G, 29A, 61PTS

Round 2, 24^th overall: Josh Knittig

Position: Forward

Shoots: Left

Birthdate: May 1, 2005 (Age 15)

Hometown: Saskatoon, Sask.

2019-20 Team: Saskatoon Maniacs Bantam AA (SBAAHL)

Stat line: 31GP, 19G, 26A, 45PTS

Round 3, 36^th overall: Jace Bymoen

Position: Forward

Shoots: Right

Birthdate: June 6, 2005 (Age 15)

Hometown: Shaunavon, Sask.

2019-20 Team: Swift Current Broncos Bantam AA (SBAAHL)

Stat line: 29GP, 11G, 28A, 39PTS

Round 4, 43^rd overall: Ashtyn Shields

Position: Forward

Shoots: Left

Birthdate: Feb. 5, 2005 (Age 15)

Hometown: Esterhazy, Sask.

2019-20 Team: Melville Millionaires Bantam AA (SBAAHL)

Stat line: 31GP, 18G, 33A, 51PTS

Round 4, 45^th overall: Gavin Granger

Position: Defenceman

Shoots: Right

Birthdate:Nov. 23, 2005 (Age 14)

Hometown: Saskatoon, Sask.

2019-20 Team: Saskatoon Maniacs Bantam AA (SBAAHL)

Stat line: 30GP, 9G, 23A, 32PTS

Round 4, 48^th overall: Tyson Yaremko

Position: Forward

Shoots: Left

Birthdate: Aug. 8, 2005 (Age 14)

Hometown: Saskatoon, Sask.

2019-20 Team: Saskatoon Stallions Bantam AA (SBAAHL)

Stat line: 31GP, 39G, 37A, 76PTS

Round 5, 60^th overall: Roper Blanchard

Position: Forward

Shoots: Right

Birthdate: Mar. 2, 2005 (Age 15)

Hometown: Prince Albert, Sask.

2019-20 Team: Prince Albert Pirates Bantam AA (SBAAHL)

Stat line: 23GP, 16G, 15A, 31PTS

Round 6, 62th overall: Clark Furman

Position: Forward

Shoots: Right

Birthdate: Jan. 9, 2005 (Age 15)

Hometown: Regina, Sask.

2019-20 Team: Regina Pat Blues Bantam AA (SBAAHL)

Stat line: 30GP, 33G, 14A, 47PTS

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1