By Nathan Kanter

Kotchorek stellar as North Stars set new franchise record

Feb 22, 2017 | 10:25 PM

The 2016-17 Battlefords North Stars are officially in a league of their own, after winning their 45th game of the season on Wednesday night to set a new franchise record.

The previous record for wins in a single season was 44, set in 1995-96. This season, the North Stars are 45-8-1 and still have four games left to make this season even more outstanding.

Their current point total, 91, is also tied for the most in a single season by any North Stars team.

“It’s been so fun working with these guys, being a part of their group, that you don’t worry so much about the wins. You worry about the journey and the journey has been real good,” North Stars head coach Nate Bedford said after the win, also the team’s eighth in a row. “I’m happy to be around them every day and I keep going back to [starting the season] 8-5. They could have folded but they didn’t. They deserve 45 wins for sure. They’ve worked their butts off here and I’m really proud of them.

“But like I said before, 12 wins in the playoffs, let’s worry about that.”

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Coby Downs led the way on Wednesday with two goals and two assists, to bring his season point total to 66 in just 42 games. Earlier in the day, Downs announced on Twitter that he has committed to Norwich University, a Div. III school in Vermont, for next season.

Layne Young, Connor Manegre, and Keaton Holinaty also found the back of the net in the win.

Taryn Kotchorek – who is up for SJHL goaltender of the year – was phenomenal, making 32 saves on 33 shots.

“[Joel] Gryzbowski was great last game and Taryn knows that he was great, so he’s going to be great tonight,” Bedford said. “That’s what I love about our tandem.

“They just keep pushing each other and if this season went on another 20 games, I can only imagine what our goals against would be. We’ve let in 11 goals in the last 10 games and in junior hockey that’s exceptional. It’s because we’ve got great goaltending.”

There was also some bad news on Wednesday, as captain Kendall Fransoo, who has been nominated for SJHL defenceman of the year, left the game just 2:11 in after taking a hit from Klippers 6’5” forward Tate Page. It is unclear how serious the injury is at this time, but after the game head coach Nate Bedford said there’s no sense in rushing him back, given that they have already locked up first place.

“We’re going to be very cautious with it,” Bedford said. “I think if we weren’t in the spot that we are in the standings, I think you’d see him play Friday.

“We’ll make sure that safety is the number one priority. We’ll see – day by day.”

The game was also very much a special teams battle, with each team being shorthanded seven times.

Battlefords went 7-for-7 on their penalty kill and 1-for-7 on their power play.

They are now 8-0 against Kindersley this season, with 43 goals for and just 12 against in those eight games. The two rivals end their respective regular seasons with a home-and-home against one another on March 3 and 4.

Next up for Battlefords is Nipawin on the road on Friday, followed by Notre Dame at home on Saturday. The Hawks are coming off a 3-2 overtime win over Humboldt on Monday while the Hounds beat Melfort on Wednesday 3-2.

Nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca

@NathanKanter11