By Martin Martinson

Stars aim to start showcase strong

Sep 23, 2018 | 8:00 PM

The Battlefords North Stars are back in action tonight to take on the La Ronge Ice Wolves in Warman, SK for their first of two games in the SJHL Showcase.

The North Stars enter action tonight looking to rebound from a tough loss last night to the division-rival, Humboldt Broncos. The Stars are 1-3 through their first four games and should be hungry to get back in the win column against another desperate team through the early going, as the Ice Wolves will surely have all kinds of motivation, still looking for their first win of the new season.

La Ronge is currently 0-2 after dropping both games of their opening home-and-home series with the Flin Flon Bombers. It will also be interesting to see how the Ice Wolves come out early, considering they haven’t played a game since Sept. 15 against the Bombers at the Whitney Forum.

The North Stars have seen their power play thrive through the first few games and will aim to try and translate some of that offence into 5-on-5 scoring as well.

Through their first four games, the Stars have scored five power play goals, and have even added a short-handed marker, courtesy of veteran Braydon Buziak. That means their special teams are directly responsible for six of their nine total goals scored through their first four games.

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It is no secret that scoring first in games is an important feat. North Stars’ head coach, Brayden Klimosko said before Thursday’s game that the big thing about getting on the board first is that it means not have to chase the game.

“It’s always tough playing from behind,” Klimosko said. “We want to try and score the first one and get some momentum that way.”

In the one game the Stars did open the scoring thus far, they ended up taking home the victory, 4-3 at the Civic Centre in overtime.

In addition to the sterling special teams, and perhaps hand-in-hand along with that success, the North Stars have seen their veteran players chip in early, and often. Of course, with even-strength offence at a premium, and the team in dire need, there are some big shakeups on the lineup sheet tonight.

MacGregor Sinclair has scored three goals in his last three games (all on the power play), and boasts five points overall through his first four games.

Sinclair will be flanked tonight by right winger, Regan Doig who seems to have found an early home with the center, and Matthias Urbanski who will shift back up to Sinclair’s left side.

Matthias Urbanski has now scored in two-straight games including a big three-point performance at home Thursday against the Melfort Mustangs that saw him rack up a couple of assists, before ultimately scoring the game winner with just 18.5 seconds remaining in overtime. Urbanski followed up Thursday’s showing with a power play strike last night in Humboldt to pull his team to within one of the Broncos early in the second period.

Amery, Wisconsin native, Austin Becker will get his first crack at center ice in the top six, as he slides in between Quinton Loon-Stewardson on the left, and 5-tool-unit, Ryan Gil on his right side.

Versitile forward, Braydon Buziak will take on center-ice responsibilities on line three, where he’ll see time with the tenacious Elijah Loon-Stewardson and fellow alternate captain and North Battleford product, Owen Lamb. This will give the North Stars’ coaching staff a veteran line through-and-through to deploy for those tough matchup situations if need be, while also boasting that offensive ability.

Puck hound, Brett Gammer will move to the energy unit alongside wrecking-ball, Kaden Boser and 17-year-old right-hander, Dylan Esau.

The back-end will also see a few names tossed in the blender and mixed up, as Jacob Bayne who has shown to be solid at both ends through the opening few games, will see his role expand further, as he will move up to play with the ever-reliable, Cody Spagrud.

Seth Summers, the fluid skater with an effortless stride will also get a chance to see some elevated minutes, moving up to play the left side alongside 19-year-old Matthew Fletcher.

Former Red Deer Chiefs standout, Tanner Scott, who showed solid play in his first game with the Stars will be back in the lineup tonight on the third pair, with American Adam Weiner his running mate.

Between the pipes, goaltender Jake Davidson is expected to get his first start of the season. Tonight will be the second career SJHL start for the 18-year-old Davidson, from Martensville, SK.

The Stars’ lineup at a glance

Forwards:

M. Urbanski, M. Sinclair, R. Doig

Q. Loon-Stewardson, A. Becker, R. Gil

E. Loon-Stewardson, B. Buziak, O. Lamb

K. Boser, B. Gammer, D. Esau

Defensemen:

J. Bayne, C. Spagrud

S. Summers, M. Fletcher

T. Scott, A. Weiner

Goaltenders:

J. Davidson

J. Grzybowski

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1