The North Stars faceoff against the Humboldt Broncos this weekend. (Byron Hildebrand/Facebook)

By Austin Mattes

North Stars Week Preview

Crucial weekend ahead as SJ/MJ Showcase is underway

Jan 28, 2025 | 12:23 PM

After dropping both games and getting zero points against the Melville Millionaires this past weekend, the Battlefords North Stars now must find a way to get back in the win column as they face off against divisional rival, Humboldt Broncos, two times this weekend.

With only 11 games left in the regular season, the North Stars are currently fifth overall in the league with a 20-15-3-2 record for 45 points. That being said, the team is only four points ahead of the eighth spot in the league, meaning that wins this weekend will be crucial to maintain a good playoff position.

This will be the fifth and sixth time the North Stars and Broncos faceoff this season with the season series tied at two games a side. The Broncos are currently 19-17-2-1 on the season with 41 points, putting them eighth overall in the league, but in their past five games boast a 4-1 record, compared to the North Stars 1-4 in the last five.

One of the biggest challenges for Battlefords this weekend will be to try and stop Broncos leading scorer, Jacob Strizzi, who has scored six goals against the North Stars in the four games so far. Strizzi is also the current third leading goal scorer in the league with 23 goals and has seemed to only get better as the season goes on. Despite not scoring in the last game between these two squads on Jan. 18, where Battlefords won in a shootout, the North Stars still need to be cautious when Strizzi is on the ice as he can swing momentum in an instant.

Some other players on the Broncos who could be big difference makers this weekend is winger, Maric Mamic and big D-man, Oakley McIlwain. Mamic currently has 17 goals on the season and has been on an absolute hot streak as of recently, notching six goals in his past three games. McIlwain on the other hand, is one of the top blueliners in the league and apart from his big presence and strong defensive ability is also on a five-game point streak.

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For the North Stars, the hot player coming into this weekend is the team’s leading scorer Nikita Ivashchenko, who has 16 goals and 22 assists this season and is currently on a four-game goal streak. Ivashchenko has proven many times throughout this initial SJHL campaign that he is one of the top players in the league and he will need to come up big for the team this weekend to help them find some offence.

Rather than Ivashchenko, the North Stars will need to get some depth scoring as well throughout the weekend if they want success. Right now, the North Stars have six players in double digit goals and for a majority of the season have done a great job of spreading the points around the stat sheet. Whether it’s Colton Getzlaff, Anthony Campbell, Rylan Williams, or Braden Nienaber, the list goes on. The North Stars have the offensive skill for anyone to find the back of the net; they just need to convert when they have the chance.

Another big factor for the Battlefords this weekend will be defence and goaltending. Over the past five games, the North Stars have allowed an average of six goals against and will need to do a way better job of protecting their own zone and limiting dangerous shots on net. Justen Maric has been playing solid all season and has kept the North Stars in many games. After a few bumps in the road this past weekend, expect a huge bounce back game from Maric against his former Head Coach, Brayden Klimosko and the Humboldt Broncos.

Apart from the weekend series against Humboldt, the SJHL/MJHL Showcase also kicks off in Winnipeg today with five players as well as Head Coach Martin Smith all be in attendance. Nikita Ivashchenko, Jordan Grill, Rylan Williams, Linken Fisher and Justen Maric will all be representing the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) as they play against the top players from the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) in front of coaches and scouts from colleges and universities. The first game of the showcase started today at noon with SJHL Team Gold facing off against MJHL Team Red.

The games against the Broncos will be on Friday, Jan. 31 and Saturday, Feb. 1. Friday’s game will be at the Access Communication Centre with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday’s game will be at the Elgar Petersen Arena in Humboldt with puck drop at 7 p.m.

Don’t miss any of the games with the Napa Auto Parts North Stars Hockey Broadcast on CJNB/CJNS. Ultra Print pregame show starts 30 minutes prior to puck drop on both nights.

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austin.mattes@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @AustinMattes