North Stars' top line center Holden Doell will return from injury to make his season debut with the team Tuesday. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Afternoon game

North Stars head to Showcase in search of fifth straight

Sep 27, 2022 | 1:20 PM

The Battlefords North Stars are SJHL Showcase-bound Tuesday, for their first afternoon start of the season, against the Weyburn Red Wings.

The North Stars (4-0) enter play Tuesday red-hot, in search of their fifth straight win to open the season.

Having already scored 21 goals through their first four games, for a 5.25 goals per-game average (second overall), the lineup will receive an additional shot in the arm with the return of top center, Holden Doell.

After scoring a hat trick in the team’s pre-season finale, Doell missed the first four games of the regular season due to injury, but will make his season debut Tuesday alongside Jake Southgate and Kian Bell.

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The Stars will play a Red Wings team (2-2 through their opening four), in search of a quick bounce back from a 4-1 loss to Flin Flon Monday.

Stars’ head coach, Brayden Klimosko said his team is looking forward to the challenge ahead against a motivated squad, and the opportunity to play in front of scouts and their league peers at the Showcase.

“It’s a good opportunity for the boys, they deserve that and it’s something they look forward to every year, so it should be exciting,” Klimosko said. “We’re playing two tough opponents starting today versus Weyburn and it should be a good one.”

The coach went on to say with a much earlier start than usual (4:30 p.m. puck drop) the team will need to be diligent to start on time, and hit the ground running.

“It is different [playing in the afternoon]. Guys live in routines and they’re not used to a 4:30 start, so it will be a little bit of an adjustment and starting on time in huge,” he said.

The Stars are led into play by a pair of veterans recently recognized in the SJHL Players of the Week.

Forward, Steven Kesslering was named SJHL MVP of the Week after leading the league with four goals and five points in two games, highlighted by a hat trick performance versus Notre Dame last Wednesday.

Wilson Steele was named Defenceman of the Week, picking up three assists as a pivotal piece of the team’s blue line at the defensive end.

Weyburn meanwhile, is led by forward Kirk Mullen, who scored a team-best five goals and seven points, and scored a hat trick of his own in a four-point outing Friday, in Weyburn’s 9-2 victory over Estevan just two games ago.

Wings’ veteran, Mathieu Gautier also had a four-point night Friday with a goal and three assists, but will miss Tuesday’s game serving the first of a two-game suspension for a kneeing major against the Bombers, Monday.

Both teams enter play with a power play amongst the league’s elite through the early going. The Battlefords are clicking at a league-best 31.8 per cent heading into play, while Weyburn sit third at 23.5 per cent.

On the penalty kill, the Wings do hold an edge, having killed off 84 per cent of their penalties, while the Stars sit ninth at just under 80 per cent.

In goal, the Battlefords will again tap first-year netminder, Josh Kotai for the start. Kotai leads the SJHL with a perfect 4-0 record, along with a 1.50 goals against average (second) and .955 save percentage (first).

Weyburn are likely to start Dazza Mitchell. The 18-year-old has started each of Weyburn’s first four games, with a 2-2 record and 2.53 goals-against average and .921 save percentage.

Tuesday’s game will be available on 1050 CJNB. The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcast will begin with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 4 p.m., and puck drop to follow at 4:30 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1