By Martin Martinson

North Stars aim to disarm Bomber’s offence

Nov 16, 2018 | 1:00 PM

The Battlefords North Stars are back in action tonight, hoping to return to the winning track as they open a jam-packed weekend that will see the team play three games in three nights at the NB Civic Centre, starting with back-to-back bouts with the Flin Flon Bombers.

Friday will mark the first matchup of the season between the Stars and Bombers, but the reputation of the deep burgundy and white far suggests it will likely not take long for the two sides to get acquainted.

Flin Flon enters play boasting the most prolific offense in the league, having amassed a staggering 99 goals through only their first 21 games.

Lead by two of the league’s top four scorers, the Bombers are a team that is as deep as any when it comes to depth of scoring as well, with already six players on the team having put up 20 or more points.

Bomber’s winger, Brandson Hein not only leads the league in goals with 23 and points with 38, but the recently turned 20-year-old Hein, also holds the distinction of being the only player in the league to average greater than a goal-per-game, having potted his 23 tallies through only 21 games played.

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Nate Hooper, Hein’s centreman on the team’s top unit, leads all players with 23 assists this season, en route to racking up 35 points of his own through his first 21 contests.

Called upon to counter the ferocious offensive pace of the Bombers, will be a North Stars’ defense lead by the team’s captain and defensive stalwart, Cody Spagrud.

A veteran of over 180 career SJHL games, Spagrud has proven himself to be amongst the elite defensemen in the league, and will be relied upon heavily by the Stars’ staff, along with his partner, in shot-blocker extraordinaire, Tanner Scott, to play the primary shutdown role against Flin Flon’s ever potent, top line.

Matthew Fletcher and Jacob Bayne back up the Stars’ top pairing with a second unit adept at using their skills in the defensive end to minimize scoring opportunities for the opposition. Encompassing a very cerebral approach, with the ability to read the play extremely well, this tandem can stifle even the best offensive minds’ using stout stick positioning, and good gap control on the defensive side of the puck.  

Austin Shumanski will also be a pivotal player in tonight’s game, along with Ryan Granville on the third pair. The North Stars depth on the back end has been assembled for games just like this, able to matchup three pairs deep as well as any team in the SJHL.

Shumanski’s ability to physically intimidate the opposition is a trait that is personified by a select few. Granville, opposite him, brings quick puck movement and transitional ability to reverse the onrushing attack and send the puck back down ice for his team in the blink of an eye.

Up front, MacGregor Sinclair and Ryan Gil will be joined once again by Quintin Loon-Stewardson on the team’s top line. Since being put together a couple of games ago, the trio have combined for a goal in each game, generating scoring chances with aplomb.

Elijah Loon-Stewardson with Braydon Buziak and Owen Lamb, make up the team’s go-to matchup line, used often times against the opposition’s best. This unit will likely start the game for the Stars to establish their gritty and hard-working style, while bringing sedulous attention to the defensive side of the puck.

On the third line, Brett Gammer’s unit, with Regan Doig and Matthias Urbanski, provides an up-tempo edge with offensive spark to boot, and will aim to establish pressure down low of the attacking zone on the cycle game, where they generate the bulk of their scoring chances, while also keeping the puck out of the hands of the game breakers of the Bombers.

Unit four, featuring the likes of Kaden Boser and Logan Spence flanking Dylan Esau, make for a textbook energy unit, setting a physical tone for the home side.

Fans of the North Stars can catch tonight’s action at the NB Civic Centre and on 1050 CJNB starting with the pregame show at 7:15 p.m. and puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

North Stars’ lineup at a glance

Forwards:

Q. Loon-Stewardson, M. Sinclair, R. Gil

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

M. Urbanski, B. Gammer, R. Doig

K. Boser, D. Esau, L. Spence

Defensemen:

T. Scott, C. Spagrud

J. Bayne, M. Fletcher

A. Shumanski, R. Granville

Goaltenders:

J. Grzybowski

A. Dmyterko

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1