Kian Bell had a season amongst the most dominant in North Stars' history, leading the SJHL in both goals and points in the regular season and playoffs. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Top-five in the Nation

North Stars Bell named finalist for CJHL Top Forward

May 3, 2023 | 3:00 PM

Coming off a season for the ages that saw him all but sweep the SJHL awards with the scoring title, League MVP, and Player of the Year honours, Battlefords North Stars’ forward Kian Bell now has a chance to add a national piece of hardware to the mantle.

The Fall River, N. S., product has been named a Finalist for the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Top Forward Award.

Bell is one of five from across Canada to be up for the award, along with Aiden Fink (Brooks Bandits, AJHL), Lucas Brennan (Selkirk Steelers, MJHL), Olivier Coulombe (Edmundston Blizzard, MHL), and Tyler Fukakusa (Toronto Jr. Canadiens, OJHL).

Bell said while it’s certainly special to be nominated for the Top Forward Award, the hardware he and his teammates are focused on more than anything right now is another championship, as they embark on their quest for a national title at the Centennial Cup next week.

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“It is really cool to be recognized as top-five in the nation for Junior A hockey, so that’s obviously very special, but it could have gone to so many players, even in this league,” Bell said.

“This has been the most fun hockey season I’ve been a part of and the 50 goals and 100 points and things were fun, but right now we’re all just focused on the Centennial Cup and trying to represent our league the best we can.”

Bell was a force for the North Stars this season, as his 54 goals and 102 points led all players. Number 27 quickly established himself as must-see viewing, bringing the fans out of their seats regularly with his penchant for creating scoring chances out of thin air, like a seasoned magician with the puck.

Kian Bell hoists the Canterra Seeds Cup as SJHL Champions alongside linemates Holden Doell (left) and Jake Southgate (right). (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

From his earliest days with the team, coming over from Cape Breton of the QMJHL where he had spent the last two seasons, Bell hit the ground running with two straight multi-point games to open his tenure with the Stars, after joining the club four games into the regular season.

Flash forward to just a few short months later, and Bell would become the first North Stars player in three decades to hit the 50-goal plateau, and just the fifth player across the SJHL to hit the half-century milestone since the year 2000.

The 19-year-old’s consistency saw him held scoreless just eight times in 51 games, while putting up 38 multi-point efforts, with three-or-more points on 12 occasions.

This included legendary performances like his five-goal, six-point game against Yorkton in late February, and a four-point (1G, 3A) outing in the regular season finale to eclipse the 100-point milestone, becoming just the seventh player to hit triple-digits in the league in the last 20 years.

At his best on the biggest stage, Bell scored a hat trick at the SJHL/MJHL Showcase to earn Player of the Game honours in his team’s final game and turn heads across the two leagues, setting the stage for an electric finish to the campaign that saw him raise his game to even new heights.

Bell amassed 21 goals and 39 points in his final 16 games, from the last week of January to the end of the regular season, for an eye-popping 1.31 goals and 2.43 points per game average down the stretch.

Named SJHL MVP of the Week a league-high six times, and MVP of the Month two times, Bell’s surging finish came following a dynamite December as well, which saw the left-winger named the CJHL Player of the Month with 18 points in just eight games.

In the post-season Bell then continued his torrid place, lighting up the scoresheet for a team-high 16 goals and 25 points in 13 playoff games to lead the Stars on their run to the league championship.

North Stars head coach Brayden Klimosko said it’s great to see Bell recognized for his play this season on the national scale, for all he’s meant to the team.

“He’s had a special year; he’s a dynamic player that can score in any situation, and there’s a real chance he could legitimately win that award,” Klimosko said. “Obviously, it was one of the best seasons we’ve seen in this league in the last 10 years, and I think he’ll have a real shot at winning it at the Canadian level.”

Bell and his North Stars’ teammates will look to add a National Championship to their trophy case as well, when the team head to the Centennial Cup early next week to compete May 11-21 in Portage, Man.

Each of the Stars’ games at the tournament will be available on 1050 CJNB, with the Ultra Print Pregame Show to begin 30 minutes prior to puck drop each game on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast.

The Stars’ Centennial Cup schedule can be found here.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1