North Stars round out leadership group with Klippenstein, Nelson named assistants

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Both players earned the respect of the locker room during their first seasons with the North Stars. Klippenstein spent the entire year in the Battlefords, while Nelson joined the team midway through the season.

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Nelson embraces first leadership role

Logan said Nelson quickly established himself as a leader after joining the team.

“He has come in and there’s a real maturity about him. I think partly it’s from being through a championship run, but I also think it’s just who he is as a person and his personality,” Logan said.

“He came in and immediately meshed well with the group, and you could tell the guys had a lot of respect for him. Likewise, he gives it back, which I think is such a sign of a good leader.”

The 19-year-old said being named an assistant captain is a special honour.

“It’s obviously a huge honour to have that on my jersey this year for such a storied organization we have in Battleford,” Nelson said.

“A huge honour that Connor and the boys have that trust in me to be a leader for this group. With that being said, all the guys in our room are leaders that could have gone to anyone else. We’ll all just be leaders this year.”

Nelson said he plans to lead both on and off the ice.

“I like to be a vocal guy and be pumping the boys up. Just trying to be that leader in the locker room that behind the scenes maybe not a lot of people see,” he said.

“With my play, I just try to lead by example on the ice and impact in the gym, and just try to be that guy that young guys can look up to.”

The upcoming season will mark the first time Nelson has worn a letter during his SJHL career.

Klippenstein ready to lead by example

Klippenstein becomes the second North Star to be named an assistant captain after his first season with the team.

Logan said Klippenstein’s ability to lead through his actions stood out.

“He’s a guy that just drags people into the fight,” Logan said.

“He’s not going to sit there and tell everyone to go to war. He’s going to just go himself, and everybody else is just going to get behind him. I think in the playoff games, you could tell it.”

“He can lead with his words, but I think Finlay’s at his best when he’s just getting involved, and there’s a contagious way that just gets everybody else involved.”

Klippenstein said earning a leadership role with the North Stars is something he takes pride in.

“To be an assistant captain for the North Star is a pretty respected organization, so it’s pretty proud and I’m excited to get started,” he said.

“We’ve got a big returning group, so we’re a big unit. Everybody’s a leader. Everybody has a chip in the room. To be named as one of the leaders and be a bigger part of that is super huge, as well as getting the trust from the coaches.”

With much of the roster returning from last season’s playoff run, Klippenstein said the team can build off the chemistry already established.

“We don’t have to do too much gelling with the group. We’re able to take what we learned from last year in our deep run and put it right into the start of the season.”

Klippenstein said he wants to be a player teammates can rely on.

“I think I’m vocal and I think I lead on the ice. I think I’m a hard worker and I hope guys can see that and do the same,” he said.

“I also have a good personality in the room, so in serious moments I can kind of take the weight off. When guys need a real chat, they can talk to me. When guys are slacking, I can let them know, but also just have that easy sort of going attitude and be a good voice in the room for everybody.”

Leadership key heading into season

As a member of the North Stars’ 2016-17 championship team, Logan understands the importance of having a strong leadership group.

Heading into the season, he said he is confident in the group the team has assembled.

“You’re not going to do anything if you don’t have a leadership group that’s completely aligned in their mentality and aligned with what the coaches perceive as the goals for the year, what the leadership perceives as the team’s goals for the year,” Logan said.

“They’re ultimately the bridge between us and the rest of the team.”