North Stars Kian Bell (#27), Carson Olsen (#24), Alex Izyk (#26) and Ben Portner (#18) have been recognized as finalists for SJHL year-end hardware. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

North Stars Shine

Four North Stars headline finalists for SJHL Awards

Mar 5, 2024 | 4:30 PM

The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) recently announced the finalists for the 2023-24 year-end awards, featuring four North Stars’ players up for five awards.

Kian Bell has been named a finalist for both SGEU MVP and Bourgault Forward of the Year; Alex Izyk is nominated for SuperU Defenceman of the Year; Carson Olsen is up for DirectWest Rookie of the Year; and Ben Portner is nominated for Star Egg Most Sportsmanlike Player.

Kian Bell – Finalist for SGEU MVP, and Bourgault Forward of the Year

Last year’s MVP and Player of the Year, Kian Bell is up for Most Valuable Player once again, and Forward of the Year honours, as the dynamic winger is currently in the midst of another season for the ages, leading the SJHL in scoring with 86 points (33 goals, 53 assists) in just 38 games.

Primed to take home his second straight scoring title, with an 11-point lead over the field with just four games to go, Bell’s 2.26 points per-game are remarkably up from his 2.0 per contest last season, when he posted a league-best 54 goals and 102 points in 51 games.

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After starting the season with the Western Hockey League’s Edmonton Oil Kings, Bell returned to a North Stars team that was 6-5-1 to open the season. Since Bell’s addition, the team is 27-9-4, including winning 11 of their next 12 games immediately upon his arrival back in town.

“Kian really changed the mentality of our group, right when came back,” North Stars’ head coach and general manager, Brayden Klimosko said. “He gave us a really good sense of confidence in our group, and I’d have a hard time thinking there’s a guy who could be more valuable than him. He’s a big part of our success.”

More on Bell’s repeat season for the ages can be found here.

Also named Finalists for the Most Valuable Player Award are Melfort Mustangs’ goaltender James Venne, and Humboldt Broncos’ forward Spencer Bell. The other two nominees for Forward of the Year are Spencer Bell of the Broncos, and Flin Flon Bombers’ captain Justin Lies.

Alex Izyk – Finalist for SuperU Defenceman of the Year

The Defenceman of the Year nomination is just the latest in what has been a milestone season on the blue line for Alex Izyk.

Currently second in defenceman scoring this season with 55 points (17 goals, 38 assists) in 48 games, what has really set the product of Blackie, Alta. apart has been his unique ability to consistently generate offence during five-on-five play. Izyk’s 32 even-strength points are the most in the SJHL and six more than any other defenceman in the top five of scoring at the position.

“He’s a confident guy, and the way he’s gained his confidence from last year’s Centennial Cup to now has been unbelievable,” Klimosko said of Izyk’s play. “He’s a leader on the power play and he creates something every time he’s out there, so he’s a pretty dynamic player for us.”

More on Izyk’s impact with the North Stars this season can be found here.

Also named finalists for the SJHL Defenceman of the Year are Noah Houle of the Flin Flon Bombers, and Chase Freidt-Mohr of the Melfort Mustangs.

Carson Olsen – Finalist for DirectWest Rookie of the Year

Defenceman Carson Olsen hit the ground running in his first SJHL season, having amassed 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) in 47 games, while playing top-pairing minutes alongside North Stars’ captain, Tanner Gold.

The 17-year-old blue liner sits sixth overall in rookie scoring this season, and second amongst first-year defencemen, trailing only Humboldt’s Ben Constantino (35 points) for most amongst freshmen at the position.

“He really hit the ground running and came out of the gates hard for us,” Klimosko said. “He skates well and he’s one of the most dynamic players we’ve seen as a rookie in a long time here in the Battlefords, so it’s been special, it’s been a treat to watch, and I think has a really good shot at winning [top-rookie honours].”

Olsen’s dynamic skating and playmaking acumen from the back end also earned the defenceman an NCAA Division I commitment to UMass Lowell for the 2025-26 season. Read more about Olsen’s journey to establishing himself amongst the league’s elite first-year talent, here.

Other players named finalists for the SJHL’s Rookie of the Year include Melville Millionaires forward Luc Bydal, and Humboldt Broncos’ winger Travis Bryson.

Ben Portner – Finalist for Star Egg Most Sportsmanlike Player

Ben Portner has taken the league by storm this season. In 46 games, the two-way pivot has also posted 65 points (26 goals, 39 assists) to establish himself as a top-10 scorer in the league, doing it all with a gentlemanly demeanor.

“You’ve got to be a good hockey player to be recognized for an award like [Most Sportsmanlike] and it just goes to show how respected he is among his peers,” Klimosko said. “He plays the game the right way and he’s had a lot of success this year, and it shows with him being nominated for that award.”

Read more about Portner’s impact beyond the stats, here.

Other finalists for this year’s Most Sportsmanlike Player include Mason Bueckert (La Ronge Ice Wolves), Jadon Iyogun (Melville Millionaires), Evan Forrest (Nipawin Hawks), and Zach Somers (Melfort Mustangs).

Other SJHL Award Finalists announced include:

SaskTel Goaltender of the Year: Dazza Mitchell (Weyburn Red Wings), James Venne (Melfort Mustangs), and Harmon Laser-Hume (Flin Flon Bombers).

Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association Coach of the Year: Clayton Jardine (Kindersley Klippers), Mike Reagan (Flin Flon Bombers), and Doug Johnson (Melville Millionaires).

Canterra Seeds Saskatchewan Player of the Year: Spencer Bell (Humboldt Broncos), Logan Linklater (Kindersley Klippers), and Matthew Van Blaricom (Humboldt Broncos).

RBC Community Player of the Year: Jacob Cossette (La Ronge Ice Wolves), Keagon Little (Estevan Bruins), Joey Lies (Flin Flon Bombers), and Leith Olafson (Melfort Mustangs).

The SJHL year-end award winners will be announced March 18th on the regular season-ending episode of SJHL Weekly, available on the league website and social media channels.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

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