North Stars blue liner, and defending SJHL Defenceman of the Month, Alex Izyk picked up another two assists Friday night and now has 14 points over his last 10 games heading into Saturday. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Saturday Night Showdown

North Stars look for quick bounce-back versus Melville

Dec 2, 2023 | 3:00 PM

Less than 24 hours after coming up just short in a wild OT finish with Estevan, the Battlefords North Stars return to play Saturday night against Melville, for the final night of their three-game home-stand this week in North Battleford.

The North Stars enter play Saturday first in the Nutrien Division and second overall in the league standings with a 19-7-1-1 record through 28 games. The team will be eager to bounce-back from just their second loss in their last 15 games Friday (13-1-1-0), looking to stay hot with the calendar turn to December.

Melville are 12-11-0-0 through 23 games, to sit first in the Viterra Division and seventh overall in the league standings. Despite having just two wins in their last five, the Mills’ victories have come against powerhouses Flin Flon (2-1 in OT) and Humboldt (5-4), showing their penchant for stepping up in big games.

North Stars Kian Bell and Tanner Gold enter the matchup red-hot to lead the way for the Battlefords. Bell is coming off another three-point game Friday with a goal and two assists to hit the 40-point plateau (17 goals, 23 assists) in just his 15^th game of the season. The dynamic winger now sits just four points back of the league lead in points (Flin Flon’s Justin Lies with 44 points in 24 games).

Gold is coming off a two-goal game Friday, which included scoring the tying goal with just eight seconds to go in the third period to force OT. The Battlefords’ captain sits second in defenceman scoring this season with 27 points (six goals, 21 assists), while also nightly matching up against the opposition’s best.

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Melville are led offensively by a pair of rookie standouts, in winger Luc Bydal and centreman Kole Keen. Each with 19 points on the season, Bydal leads the club with 11 goals in just 20 games, while Keen’s 14 assists in 23 games are also a team-high.

Between the pipes, Ben Dardis will make his third start for the North Stars. Dardis is 2-0-0-0 with a 2.50 goals against average and .906 save percentage through his first two starts.

Melville are likely to start William Dyke, who has been a workhorse for the team playing 17 of their first 23 games. Dyke is 10-7-0-0 on the season with a 3.06 goals against average and .910 save percentage.

Saturday’s NAPA Auto Parts North Stars Broadcast will be available on 1050 CJNB with the Ultra Print Pregame Show at 7 p.m. and puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @MartyMartyPxP1