Kian Bell led all SJHL players with 54 goals and 102 points in just 51 games last season, adding another 16 goals and 25 points in 13 games in the Stars' playoff run to the league championship. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Excited for next chapter

Stars’ standout, Bell signs with Charlottetown of QMJHL

Jun 23, 2023 | 5:08 PM

Following a season full of milestones, capped with a league championship, Battlefords North Stars’ forward Kian Bell is Major Junior bound once again, singing with the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for the 2023-24 hockey season.

Bell said it’s an opportunity he’s looking forward to, to return to Major Junior out east, after starting his junior career in the league playing over 60 games from 2020-22 with the Cape Bretton Eagles.

“I’m super excited, and I’m thrilled,” Bell said. “To get another chance at the Major Junior level is just a huge honour and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my time in the Battlefords.”

His return to the Maritimes is something of a homecoming as well for Bell, who is from Fall River, Nova Scotia, just a few hours away.

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“To be about three-and-a-half hours away from home where my parents and my brother are and my family and friends can drive out to P.E.I., it’s a pretty beautiful province too so it’s really cool to be able to head back that way,” he said, letting out a smile.

While Bell may have only spent a single season in the North Stars’ black and silver, he made the most of his time with the team, chalking up a number of moments to remember.

From his five-goal performance late in the season versus Yorkton, to his four-goal game against Weyburn in the quarterfinals and double-OT winner against Melfort in the semis of the SJHL playoffs, Bell regularly brought the fans out of their seats.

Bell scored 54 goals and 102 points in just 51 games to win the scoring title, and also earn SJHL MVP and Player of the Year honours.

Donning his uncle Marty Smith’s #27, Bell became the first Stars’ player since Smith – over 30 years ago – to score 50 goals in a season, and just the sixth player in franchise history to accomplish the feat. He also became just the fifth SJHL player to hit 50 goals since the year 2000.

Similarly, Bell’s 102 points marked just the sixth time a player has cracked the century milestone in scoring in the last 20 years as well.

However, while the numbers and accomplishments may have earned his place in the franchise record books, Bell said as he looks back on the last year, and ahead to what’s to come in the next chapter, there’s something more he’ll take away from his time in North Battleford.

“All of the milestones were nice, and winning the championship… but what stands out the most is just the friendships that I’ve made here and the lifelong memories I’ve made with the guys and everyone around the team and the community,” he said.

“It was the most fun I’ve ever had playing hockey, so I really enjoyed it and it put the fun back in the game for me.”

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1