Stars forward, Holden Doell has been amongst the league's most dangerous players of late, coming off a five-point night versus Estevan, heading into the Stars' return to play Thursday. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Homestand Continues

North Stars host Terriers for first night of back-to-backs

Oct 20, 2022 | 2:00 PM

The Battlefords North Stars return to action on home ice Thursday, for their first of back-to-back games tonight and tomorrow against the Yorkton Terriers.

The Stars enter play a league-best 11-0-1 on the season and are coming off a 7-3 win over Estevan Saturday that snapped the Bruin’s league-high seven-game winning streak.

Yorkton sits second in the Viterra Division standings and sixth overall with a 6-4 record through their first 10 and will be looking to bounce back from a 4-1 loss to La Ronge, Saturday.

The Stars are led into play by one of the premier lines in the SJHL.

Forwards Jake Southgate, Holden Doell, and Kian Bell have combined for seven goals and 19 points over their last three games. Doell has been particularly hot as of late, coming off a hat-trick and five-point night against the Bruins just two games after the captain, Southgate picked up a four-point outing of his own against Weyburn.

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Yorkton is led offensively by forwards Greg Nelson (four goals, four assists) and JD Hall (three goals, five assists), who are tied atop the Terriers’ scoring leaders with eight points apiece through 10 games.

Hall enters Thursday night with points in three-straight, while Nelson has a goal and four points of his own over his last three outings.

The Stars and Terriers mirror each other perfectly on special teams through the early going. The Battlefords’ 27.9 percent effectiveness on the power play is second in the league, while their 80 percent penalty kill is seventh.

Yorkton owns the league’s second-best penalty kill at 87.1 percent, with the seventh-best power play, clicking at 18.5 percent.

Between the pipes, the Stars will see a return to play for starter, Josh Kotai after receiving a rare night’s rest last Saturday. Kotai is 8-0-1 this season, with a league-best 1.19 goals against average and .962 save percentage.

Yorkton are likely to turn to fellow first-year standout, Caleb Allen, who has played seven of his team’s first 10 games, having posted a 5-2 record, with a 2.70 goals against average and .927 save percentage.

Thursday’s game will be available on 1050 CJNB. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7 p.m., with puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m. on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcast.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1