North Stars' forward Ben Portner tangles up with Yorkton's Tylan Henrikson off a faceoff. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

In Search of Third Straight

North Stars host Terriers for final game of homestand

Feb 6, 2024 | 2:57 PM

Coming off back-to-back wins over La Ronge over the weekend, the Battlefords North Stars will return to action Tuesday night at the Access Communications Centre for the final game of their current six-game homestand, against the visiting Yorkton Terriers.

The North Stars enter play first in the Nutrien Division and second overall in the SJHL standings, with a 31-8-3-1 record through 43 games this season. With 66 points, the team sits six back of first-place Flin Flon, and seven up on third-place Melfort.

Yorkton is fourth in the Viterra Division and 10th overall, with a 15-23-1-2 record through 41 games. With 33 points, The Terriers sit just four back of Weyburn for the eighth and final playoff spot. Looking to rebound from a 7-4 loss to Estevan over the weekend, the Terriers have still picked up at least a single point in four of their last six games (3-2-1).

The North Stars are led into play Tuesday by league-leading scorer, Kian Bell and recently-named SJHL MVP of the Week, Alex Izyk.

Each coming off four-point games Saturday, Bell’s 71 points (29 goals, 42 assists) in just 29 games are nine more than the field, with only two other players league-wide having eclipsed the 60-point mark (Flin Flon’s Justin Lies with 62 points in 38 games, and Humboldt’s Spencer Bell with 60 points in 42 games).

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Izyk’s 47 points (14 goals, 33 assists) in 39 games put the blue liner just three back of Flin Flon’s Noah Houle for first in scoring amongst defencemen.

On the other side, no Terriers’ player is hotter than Dustin Renas heading into Tuesday. Coming off his first career SJHL hat trick Saturday against Estevan, Renas has four goals in just two games donning Yorkton’s black and orange, since being re-assigned from Prince Albert of the Western Hockey League.

In goal, Matthew MacArthur will get the start for the North Stars. With a 4-0-1 record since joining the team in early January, MacArthur’s 2.92 goals against average and .921 save percentage are both amongst the league’s best.

The Terriers could give the nod to either Ethan Farrow or Adam Kelly. Farrow is 11-8-0 in 19 games, with a 3.69 goals against average and .896 save percentage, but was pulled in the third period Saturday after allowing six goals on 40 shots. Kelly is 0-5-0-1 in 11 games with a 4.33 goals against average and .879 save percentage.

Tuesday’s game 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 Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1