Austin Becker has wasted no time making a name for himself in his first season of NAHL play, with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. (Facebook/Fairbanks Ice Dogs Hockey Club)

By Martin Martinson

The Wisconsin Wonder

Former North Stars standout Becker named NAHL Star of the Week

Apr 9, 2021 | 1:27 PM

From the fall of 2018 to the spring of 2020, North Stars’ fans were dazzled regularly by the quick hands and offensive creativity of forward, Austin Becker.

This season the former Stars’ standout, affectionately referred to as “the Wisconsin wonder” has continued to make a name for himself in the junior ranks across the border, named North American Hockey League (NAHL) Midwest Division Star of the Week.

Currently in his first junior season with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs, situated in Alaska, Becker received the honour after posting five points and a plus-three rating to help lead his team to two wins in three games against the Minnesota Magicians.

The product of Amery, Wis., currently sits second in Ice Dogs’ scoring with 26 points in 38 games this season.

Becker said he’s grateful for the opportunity to be playing hockey this year, with many leagues – including the SJHL – having cancelled their seasons altogether due to the pandemic. Though he also feels for his former teammates and others that lost out on their final season.

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“I felt really bad when I saw the SJHL season shut down, as I know a lot of those guys aren’t going to get to finish out their junior careers the right way, playing,” he said. “So I’m really grateful that our league’s still going and that we’re able to play in front of some fans as well.”

Becker, who joined Fairbanks this year in hopes of being recruited for a Division I scholarship next season, said it’s been a good experience both on the ice and off, as his family has also been able to attend the games more regularly with him being closer to home.

“It’s been a good transition, and especially over the last couple of weeks the team’s really been coming around,” Becker said. “I came here to hopefully get some more eyes on me, and it’s been nice too this year, where my family’s been able to come watch over 25 of my games already.”

Fairbanks currently sits third in the Midwest Division, with a 20-17-2 record this season.

Austin Becker proved himself as a gamebreaker at the junior level during his time with the North Stars. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Prior to joining the Ice Dogs across the border, Becker won a Canalta Cup championship with the North Stars as a rookie during the 2018-19 season. He then led the Stars in scoring in 2019-20, with 59 points in 57 games; playing an integral role in helping lead the team to a league-best 45-11-2 record.

In 105 career games with the Stars, Becker picked up 29 goals and 79 points.

While Becker is looking forward to a strong finish to the season, he said when all is said and done and he looks back on his junior career, he’ll never forget his two years in the Battlefords suiting up in the North Stars’ black and silver.

“Those first two years of junior are two I’ll always remember,” Becker said. “I never thought I’d go up and play hockey in Canada, so I’m really appreciative of all the people I met up there. Winning the championship in my first year is something I’ll always remember and last year’s team was something special too.

“I made a lot of good friends there and I hope to see them again sometime soon.”

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1