Forward Steven Kesslering scored a goal and an assist in the Stars' opening game of the Centennial Cup Thursday, picking up where he left off as the team's Playoff MVP on their run to the SJHL championship. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Round Robin continues

North Stars look to stay hot against OJHL champion, Collingwood

May 13, 2023 | 7:00 AM

Coming off a 4-1 win over Kam River to open the tournament Thursday, the Battlefords North Stars return to action Saturday morning for their second round robin game of the Centennial Cup, against the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) champion, Collingwood Blues.

The North Stars saw four different scorers chip in with a goal apiece in their opening game victory, and will be looking to keep the ball rolling against a Collingwood team that are also 1-0 to open the tournament, coming off a 2-1 overtime win over Steinbach.

Collingwood finished the OJHL regular season second overall with a 44-9-0-1 record in 54 games, on their way to adding another 12 wins in 13 playoffs games on their run to the league championship.

All season the Blues sat right near the top of the Canadian Junior Hockey League Weekly Rankings, finishing sixth in the nation at the end of the season. Collingwood was just back of the North Stars who finished second overall at season’s end, finishing with an SJHL-best 48-5-2-1 record in 56 games, before winning 12 of 13 on their own dominant run to a league championship.

Headlining Saturday’s matchup will be two of the most dominant goaltenders in the CJHL this season, in Josh Kotai of the Stars, and Noah Pak of the Blues.

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Kotai, an NCAA Division 1 commit to Augustana University, led the SJHL with 32 wins, a 2.39 goals against average, and .935 save percentage. His performance earned Top Goaltender honours in the SJHL this season, and also made him a finalist for CJHL Top Goaltender.

The Abbotsford, BC., product is coming off a 23/24 save performance in the Stars’ opening win of the tournament over SIJHL champion, Kam River.

Pak, an NCAA Division 1 commit to Yale University, led the OJHL with 29 wins, while his 2.01 goals against average and .917 save percentage were second and third overall amongst goaltenders to play at least 30 games.

Pak was the Blues’ Playoff MVP on their run to the OJHL championship, and Player of the Game in their opening win of the Centennial Cup over Steinbach, stopping 28/29 shots against the high-flying MJHL champs.

Pak and Kotai sit 1-2 in save percentage this tournament, with a .966 for Pak and .958 for Kotai, through their opening game each.

Unlike the Stars, who dominated the SJHL scoring charts with five of the top 10 in league points (Kian Bell 102 points, Holden Doell 100 points, Jake Southgate 82, Steven Kesslering 69, and defenceman Tynan Ewart 56), the Blues’ dominance in the OJHL this season came despite not having a single top 10 scorer in their league, and just a one player in the top 20 in points.

Bryce Sutherland, who was a mid-season acquisition by the team from the St. Michael’s Buzzers, scored 25 points in 22 games in a Blues’ sweater, and 69 points in 57 games total this year to pace the club, finishing tied for 17th in the OJHL.

However, the team did have a very balanced attack offensively, with eight 30-plus point scorers in the regular season, including five with at least 40 points over the 52-game schedule. In addition to Sutherland’s 69 points, captain Cam Garvey had 64, Mark McIntosh had 50, Ikki Kogawa 48, and defenceman Robert Strachan 46.

Special teams play will be an important factor Saturday, as both teams have been quick to make an impact in the tournament, either up or down a man. Kesslering scored a shorthanded goal in the Stars’ opening win, while Strachan netted the overtime winner for the Blues on the power play in their opener.

Saturday’s game between the Stars and Blues will be available on 1050 CJNB, with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 10 a.m. and puck drop to follow at 10:30 a.m. on the NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast.

The Stars’ full Centennial Cup schedule can be found here.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1