There will be no shortage of superstar talent on display when the puck drops between the North Stars and Bombers Friday, including Holden Doell and Jacob Vockler, pictured here. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Series outlook

North Stars host rival Bombers for Game 1 of SJHL Finals

Apr 14, 2023 | 2:21 PM

The Battlefords North Stars are looking for their first league title in four years as they kick off Game 1 of the SJHL Finals with the Flin Flon Bombers Friday night in North Battleford.

The series reignites one of the league’s premier rivalries and marks the fifth time the teams have met in the post-season since 2016, and second time in the League Finals. They last clashed in the championship series in 2017.

The North Stars are shooting for its first championship since 2019, while the Bombers go for their first since ’93.

TEAM OUTLOOK

The North Stars are coming off a four-game series sweep of the fourth-seeded Melfort Mustangs in the semi-finals, after opening their post-season with a five-game win in their series with the eighth-place Weyburn Red Wings.

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The Bombers are coming off a five-game series win over the second-seed Humboldt Broncos in the semis, following a seven-game series that went the distance with the sixth-place Estevan Bruins.

Heading into Game 1 of the Finals, head coach of the North Stars Brayden Klimosko said his team is looking forward to getting things underway in their biggest game yet.

“We’re looking forward to it – it’s been what, 10 days since our last game – so guys are just chomping at the bit and looking forward to the game tonight,” Klimosko said; adding that the key to finding success early will be playing to their strengths with a quick pace.

“We’re going to have to play fast, they’re a physical, heavy style of team that doesn’t allow you to get to the inside easily and they protect their [slot area] well,” Klimosko said. “Laser (goaltender Harmon Laser-Hume) is going to stop the shots from the outside pretty easily, so we’re going to have to use our speed against their rugged defensemen.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

The series will feature some of the biggest names in the SJHL this season, with no shortage of star power on each side.

The North Stars are led up front by the four-headed monster of Jake Southgate (18 points), Kian Bell (17 points), Holden Doell (16 points), and Steven Kesslering (12 points), who sit 1-2-3-4 in playoff scoring.

The four are coming off a regular season for the books that saw them become the first quartet of teammates to finish top-four in scoring in the regular season as well, as Kian Bell led all players with 102 points, followed closely by Holden Doell’s 100 points, Jake Southgate’s 82, and Steven Kesslering’s 69.

Flin Flon was the only other team in the league to have four players hit 50-plus points, despite a number of key injuries down the stretch. Cole Duperreault’s 64 points in 44 games led the team, followed by Jeremi Tremblay’s 55 in 44, Zach Cain’s 51 in 53, and Jaeden Mercier’s 50 in 38.

With all four having been limited to eight games or fewer these playoffs as well due to injury, first-year standout Alexi Sylvestre (11 points) and veteran Jacob Vockler (10 points) sit 1-2 in Bombers’ playoff scoring heading into the Finals series.

DEFENCE

On the backend, Tynan Ewart of the North Stars and Reece Richmond of the Bombers are also tied for the league lead in blue line scoring with nine points apiece in nine (Ewart) and 12 (Richmond) games, respectively. Both will be counted on to log big minutes in all situations for their teams.

For all the firepower, the Stars and Bombers have also allowed the two fewest goals-against per game through the first two rounds. The Stars have allowed just 15 goals in nine games for 1.67 goals against, while the Bombers have allowed just 24 in 12 for 2.00 goals against.

SPECIAL TEAMS

With a tight tale of the tape between the two sides, strong special teams play will be of the utmost importance for both teams.

The North Stars do hold a slight edge on special teams through the first two rounds. Both teams have been extremely efficient on the man advantage at 21 per cent (Stars) and 20 per cent (Bombers), with the Battlefords’ penalty kill at just over 87 per cent to Flin Flon’s 84 per cent.

GOALTENDING

Between the pipes, Josh Kotai and Harmon Laser-Hume are tied for the league’s best save percentage, each with a shimmering .945 through the opening two rounds.

Both netminders have been their team’s playoff MVPs through the opening two rounds, as Kotai is 8-1 with a league-best 1.60 goals against average, while Laser-Hume is 8-2-2 with 1.75 goals against.

Game 1 of the Finals Friday will be available on 1050 CJNB, with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7 p.m. and puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m. on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast.

The full finals schedule is available here.

In celebration of the Finals series kicking off Friday, the North Stars will also be having a Parking Lot Party in the Beaver Lions Stadium (located right next to the rink) from 6-7 p.m. with BBQ and concert. Details can be found here.

The City of North Battleford is also asking fans to dress warmly for the weekend’s Finals games, as the Access Communications Centre will be quite cold to ensure optimal ice conditions for the players, due to the replacement condenser at the ACC & the warmer-than-typical outdoor temperatures.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1