The North Stars could sweep the Mustangs in the first round of the SJHL playoffs with a win in game four tonight. (Image Credit: Byron Hildebrand Photography/Facebook)

By Ryan Lambert

Chance to advance

North Stars set for Game 4 vs the Melfort Mustangs

Mar 25, 2026 | 12:45 PM

The Battlefords North Stars have an opportunity to sweep the Melfort Mustangs at the Northern Lights Palace tonight.

After winning Game 3 Tuesday night with a score of 6-3, the North Stars took a 3-0 series lead. 

While the North Stars have gotten contributions across the board, their best player has been goaltender Kaeden Serpa, who has faced 40+ shots in all three of the games they have played. 

Throughout the first three games of the series, the Mustangs have outshot the North Stars 125-78, but the North Stars have outscored Melfort 13-7 through three games. Serpa has a league-high .944 save percentage in the playoffs. 

In Game 3, North Stars captain Anthony Campbell was the star of the game. Campbell had a four-point night (1G-3A), including the insurance goal of the game on a breakaway to make it 5-3 late in the third period. 

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Campbell leads the league in points throughout the playoffs with seven points (2G-5A) through three games. There is a five-way tie for the team lead in goals with Campbell, Josh Knittig, Finlay Klippenstein, Alessio Nardelli and Owen Nelson who all have two goals apiece. 

Dru Mushumanski leads the Mustangs in goals and points. He has four points (2G-2A) in the first three games of the series. 

The North Stars know the Mustangs aren’t going to go down without a fight, and they know that the hardest win to get in a seven-game series is the fourth. 

“There’s going to be a lot of emotion tomorrow, so we’ve got to be ready,” said North Stars assistant coach Owen Lamb after Game 3. “We’ve seen today just how quick they can play and how hard they come in those first ten minutes. So, we’ve got to be ready for that. We’ve got to answer, and we’ve got to really just focus on our game and then playing the right way here.” 

There is no love lost between these teams, with 206 combined penalty minutes throughout the series, and 100 of them in Game 3.

The North Stars are trying to repeat history from three seasons ago. The last time the Mustangs were in this spot in the series, they were swept by the North Stars in the second round of the 2023 playoffs. 

Game 4 is tonight when the North Stars look to complete the sweep. Napa Auto Parts North Stars hockey is at 7:30, Ultra Print pregame show is half hour before puck drop on CJNB/CJNS. 

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Ryan.Lambert@pattisonmedia.com