North Stars’ 20-year-olds reflect on junior hockey experience: Part 1

“It’s been very exciting, and it’s been a really special time here… I can’t think of a better place to be these last couple of years,” Girod said, after pausing for a moment to reflect.

Riley Girod, pictured here celebrating with linemate Rylan Williams following a goal in Nipawin earlier this year. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Among the things junior hockey has taught him, is to embrace being a positive role model, both on the ice and off.

“It always seems like someone is watching you, and even the young fellas that are running around the rink, they look up to you, so I always try to be the best person I can be,” he said.

Girod finishes his junior hockey career as an SJHL champion (2023), with 58 points (20 goals, 38 assists) in 102 SJHL games, all spent with the North Stars. He will continue his hockey career at the collegiate level, playing alongside his brother Brodie at the College of St. Scholastica (NCAA III) in Duluth, MN.

#27 Kian Bell

The first-ever to repeat as SJHL MVP, achieving the feat in his lone two seasons donning the North Stars’ sweater, Bell leaves behind a legacy that will last a lifetime in the franchise record books.

Winning back-to-back scoring titles with 102 points in 51 games in 2023, and another 94 in just 41 games this season, Bell’s play earned himself Player/Forward of the Year honours both years as well, becoming just the fifth SJHL player to score 50 goals in a season since 2000, and one of just six to crack the 100-point plateau over the last 20 years.

Bell became the first North Star to score 50-plus goals in a season since his uncle and fellow franchise legend, Martin Smith over 30 years ago. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Bell said as he reflects on his time in junior hockey, it’s hard to believe just how quickly the time’s flown.

“People always tell you that junior flies by fast and you don’t really believe them until it actually happens… it felt like the blink of an eye,” he said. “I’m just so happy that it all worked out. I got a championship from last year, and I’m grateful for all the lifelong connections I’ve made with the staff and players. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Bell finishes his junior hockey career with 196 points (91 goals, 105 assists) in just 92 SJHL games, all with the North Stars. He also had 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in 72 games at the Major Junior level, split between the Cape Breton Eagles of the QMJHL and Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL.

#23 Hunter Burgeson

A true jack of all trades for the North Stars during his tenure with the team, Burgeson played both centre and wing, lines one through four after being acquired from the Canmore Eagles of the AJHL in early October.

Quick to make an impact in whatever role required, Burgeson scored in his North Stars’ debut in Nipawin, spending much of the year as a top-six winger, before moving to centre late in the season to provide added scoring punch through the lineup, as evidenced by his four playoff goals on the team’s eight-game run to the SJHL semi-finals.

Highlighting Burgeson’s playoff run was a two-goal performance in the team’s Game 4 win, to clinch their first round series with Melville. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Burgeson, who had bounced around a bit with stops in Bonnyville, Canmore, and La Ronge before joining the North Stars’ organization, said he quickly found a home in the Battlefords, in a memorable final year of junior that will stay with him for a long time.

“It’s just an A-class organization, and the culture that [coaches] Brayden [Klimosko] and Chilly [Garry Childerhose] have built isn’t like anything else around, so honestly, it was a blessing to come here,” Burgeson said. “All the people I’ve met, the relationships I’ve built, I wouldn’t have wanted to spend my 20-year-old year anywhere else.”

Burgeson finishes his junior career with 54 points (25 goals, 29 assists) in 96 games split between the North Stars and La Ronge Ice Wolves of the SJHL and Bonnyville Pontiacs and Canmore Eagles of the AJHL. He will continue his hockey career at the post-secondary level next year at Vancouver Island University.

#26 Alex Izyk

One of the true, elite game-breakers at the defense position, Izyk joined the North Stars as the team’s lone acquisition at the 2023 Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) Trade Deadline, immediately finding a home next to Tanner Gold as a fixture within the top-four in the Battlefords’ run to the SJHL championship.

Following it up with a historic season on the North Stars’ blue line this year, Izyk finished the campaign with 56 points (17 goals, 39 assists) in just 50 games, to be named a Finalist for SJHL Defenceman of the Year, finishing second in defenceman production, while tying Tynan Ewart’s mark for the most points by a North Stars’ rearguard in over two decades, dating back to 2003.

Alex Izyk’s 17 goals this season also marked the most by a North Stars’ defenceman in over 20 years, dating back to 2003 when Drew Bagnall also scored 17. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“I was obviously blessed to come to this team last year,” Izyk said, looking back on his time. “It’s been a great group of guys and I’m super thankful that Brayden [Klimosko] and the staff acknowledged me and took a shot on me and brought me over into a great team with a great culture here. I’m glad throughout this last year that we were able to continue that, and just for the relationships I’ve built throughout this team, I couldn’t have asked for anything better. It’s been awesome.”

Izyk finishes his junior career with 78 points (23 goals, 55 assists) in 149 games between his time in the SJHL with the North Stars, and AJHL with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons and Calgary Canucks.

This concludes Part 1/2, reflecting on the junior careers of the North Stars 20-year-olds. Part 2/2 will be posted Friday at 9 a.m.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

North Stars’ 20-year-olds reflect on junior hockey experience: Part 1

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