Marshall Light (#11) and Carson Olsen (#24) have been key pieces of the North Stars' attack early this season, each with four points apiece through their first five games heading into Friday night in Nipawin. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Big Weekend ahead

North Stars kick off home-and-home with Hawks in Nipawin

Oct 6, 2023 | 1:00 PM

The Battlefords North Stars return to play Friday night in Nipawin, for their first game of what will be a home-and-home with the Nipawin Hawks this weekend.

The North Stars (2-3-0) enter play looking to get back on the winning track after posting a 1-2 record over their three-game road swing last weekend, splitting their back-to-backs with the Terriers in Yorkton, before closing the trip with a 3-1 loss in Melville.

The Hawks (2-1-0-1) have just a single regulation loss through their first four games, and will be in search of their third straight, coming off back-to-back 7-4 and 4-2 wins over Kindersley and Notre Dame respectively, last weekend.

The Stars will receive a large boost to their lineup Friday, as captain and team cornerstone, Tanner Gold draws back into the lineup after missing the last two games due to precautionary measures. Additionally, the club will also see their pair of recent additions – goaltender Justen Maric, and forward Hunter Burgeson – make their season debuts in Stars’ black and silver.

The return of captain Tanner Gold brings a poised veteran presence to the North Stars’ backend. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

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Maric will get the start Friday, after making his return from Portland of the Western Hockey League (WHL) where he started the season. In 17 games last year, Maric posted a 16-1 record with a 2.39 goals against average and a .934 save percentage.

Burgeson will suit up for his first game with the Battlefords, after putting up 28 points (13 goals, 15 assists) in 46 games last season split between the La Ronge Ice Wolves of the SJHL and Canmore Eagles and Bonnyville Pontiacs of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL).

The Stars will also see first-year forwards Brayden Sinclair and Ben Portner – each coming off a goal and two helpers in their last outing against Yorkton – draw back into the lineup Friday, after missing the last game against Melville due to a pre-determined lineup change for the final night of the trip.

Tied for the team lead with five points apiece, Sinclair enters play with two goals and three assists in five games, while Portner has a goal and four helpers in two games.

Nipawin are led into action by forwards Braxton Buckberger and Hudson Cameron, and defenceman Ronan Buckberger.

The elder Buckberger brother, Braxton, leads the Hawks and sits tied for fourth in league scoring through the early part of the season with seven points (three goals, four assists) through his first four games, highlighted by a two-goal, four-point outing against Kindersley last weekend. Cameron has five points (three goals, two assists) in four games, coming off a two-goal, three-point night against Notre Dame.

On the backend, Ronan Buckberger has four points (one goal, three assists) in his last two games, as the defending SJHL Rookie of the Week. Already an NCAA Division I commit with Ohio State University for 2025-26, the blue liner has been playing big minutes for the Hawks in all situations as a 17-year-old.

In goal, it remains to be seen who will get the start for Nipawin Friday as the Hawks are likely to split the weekend back-to-back between Damon Cunningham and Tyson Endall. Cunningham is 1-1-1 through three games with a 2.60 goals against average and a .937 save percentage. Endall is 1-0-0 with a 2.00 goals against and a .935 save percentage.

The NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast will be available Friday on 1050 CJNB, with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 6:30 p.m. and puck drop to follow at 7 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1