North Stars netminder, Josh Kotai has been lights out to open the season. The 19-year-old is 2-0, with a 0.75 goals against average and .976 save percentage, making his return to the crease Wednesday. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Divisional Battle

North Stars host Hounds for Wednesday night hockey

Sep 21, 2022 | 2:10 PM

Coming off a two-game sweep of the rival, Klippers opening weekend, the Battlefords North Stars return to home ice Wednesday for their first showdown of the season with the Notre Dame Hounds.

Another Global Ag. Risk Solutions Division rivalry game, the Stars enter Wednesday’s contest red-hot offensively, having scored nine goals from six different players through their opening two games.

The North Stars lineup will receive a shot in the arm Wednesday, with the return of hometown standout and fan favorite, Zane Florence, who will make his season debut returning off injury. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

North Stars head coach, Brayden Klimosko said he’s liked what he’s seen from his team through their first couple of games, and their composure early.

“I think we got a pretty good push back from Kindersley at times in those first couple of games and we saw a little bit of adversity but we didn’t panic and were able to get two big wins,” Klimosko said. “There was lots to like, and now we just can’t be satisfied as tonight will be another good challenge for us.”

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The Hounds, who have split their first two games of the year, are coming off a 5-4 shootout victory over Kindersley Tuesday for their first win of the campaign. Notre Dame have scored three of their first six goals from the blue line position, spearheaded by a two-goal performance from captain, Jaryd Sych, not including the shootout winner.

Special teams could play a deciding factor Wednesday, as both the Stars and Hounds enter action with their power play surging out of the gate.

Both top-five power plays through the early going, the Hounds do hold a slight edge on the man advantage, clicking along at 25 per cent (second overall) while the Stars sit just back with a 22.2 per cent efficiency while up a man (fifth).

On the penalty kill however, it is Stars who sit amongst the league’s elite with just under 89 per cent efficiency on the kill (second), to Notre Dame’s 72.2 per cent (12th).

Klimosko said discipline will be key for the team heading into the matchup, along with making the most of the opportunities they do get.

“Special teams are always important: usually if you win that battle, you’re going to win the hockey game, and with Sych and [Sam] Kroon on the backend and [Will] Dawson and some good high-end talent, we have to be ready to defend well and also capitalize on our power play opportunities,” he said.

Between the pipes, the North Stars will start Abbotsford, B.C., product, Josh Kotai, who has hit the ground running in his first season with the team. Since coming on in the third period of Friday’s opener, Kotai has stopped 41 of 42 shots faced, for a perfect 2-0 record, with a .976 save percentage.

At the other end, the Hounds will turn to Tucker Inabinet, who stopped 32 of 36 in his first start of the season in Tuesday’s win in Kindersley. The 19-year-old is 1-0 with a 3.69 goals against average and .889 save percentage.

Puck drop Wednesday at the ACC will be at 7:30 p.m. The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcast on 1050 CJNB will begin with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1