Forward Jackson Allan has been a driving force of the Stars' offence this season, with his five points (two goals, three assists) in six games tied for a team-high. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Back in N.B.

North Stars shoot for second straight in return to home ice

Oct 7, 2023 | 2:00 PM

For the first time since their season opener back on Sept. 22, the Battlefords North Stars will return to action Saturday night on home ice, for night two of their weekend home-and-home with the Nipawin Hawks.

The North Stars (3-3-0) are coming off a 3-0 blanking of the Hawks last night in Nipawin, in a win that saw goalie Justen Maric lead the way with a 36-save shutout performance and three different offensive lines chip in on the scoring, with Hunter Burgeson, Owen Underhill, and Rylan Williams each pitching in a goal apiece.

“I thought it was a really good road game for us and a good response from last weekend,” assistant coach, Garry Childerhose said postgame, following the win.

“Nipawin’s a really hard rink to play in, ‘the Cage’ [as it’s known] is a really small barn and they come at you quick, and I thought we were ready to go from the get-go and it took all the guys with no passengers. We were really hard on the puck and played a full 60 [minutes].”

It’s an effort the Stars’ coaching staff will be looking to replicate in night two of the weekend series, back at the ACC in front of the home crowd.

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Maric will make his second straight start for the North Stars in goal, while on the backend the team will truly need all hands on-deck, due to a slew of injuries early this season to some key blue liners.

Alex Izyk will miss Saturday’s game with an upper body injury sustained Friday, while Easton Rask (illness/inj.) and Josh Karman (lower body) both remain out due to various ailments that saw each miss Friday’s contest; and Brady Seabrook remains sidelined with an upper body injury from camp.

With four of the team’s starting defencemen out Saturday, the Stars’ versatility will be front and centre for the team.

Jordan Grill, who moved from wing back to his natural defense position last game to cover, will remain on the blue line Saturday. He will be joined by newcomer, Braden Nienaber, who also shifts back to defence after making his debut with the team last night on the right wing.

“I’m a guy that you can put out there and kind of play me anywhere,” Nienaber said when describing his own style of play as the Player Profile, Friday. “Before I played forward I was a defenseman, so you can put me in a role and I’ll fulfill it. I’m a hard-working two-way [player] that will get the job done.”

Braden Nienaber, pictured here in his North Stars’ debut, Friday. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Both the Stars and Hawks feature an explosive game-breaker to watch heading into the second night of their weekend showdown, in Stars’ right-winger Owen Underhill and Hawks’ left-winger Maguire Ratzlaff.

Underhill scored his second of the season Friday on a wicked one-timer he nearly put through the net. Ratzlaff, the Hawks’ captain, will be counted on as Nipawin search for a quick bounce back after being shutout for the first time this season. Ratzlaff was buzzing throughout the night Friday, and is destined for a breakout after being held to just a single goal through five games this year.

In goal, it remains to be seen who will receive the nod for Nipawin. Damon Cunningham was excellent Friday, stopping 32-of-35 shots against to keep his team in the game throughout, and enters play with a 4-1-1 record, a 2.73 goals against average and .932 save percentage.

Hawks’ backup, Tyson Endall has also been sharp early, with a 1-0 start to the season, a 2.00 goals against and .935 save percentage, coming off a 29/31 save outing against Notre Dame last Saturday.

Due to the Riders’ game on 1050 CJNB, Saturday’s NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcast will be available on 93.3 Beach Radio. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7 p.m. with puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1