By Martin Martinson

North Stars hope to tame division-leading Broncos

Dec 4, 2018 | 1:00 PM

The Battlefords North Stars return to action tonight, as the team welcomes the division-leading Humboldt Broncos to town.

The North Stars are coming off a productive November that saw the team post a 7-3-2 record, including a 3-0-1 stretch over their last four games.  

Humboldt meanwhile, is coming off a nearly identical output last month that saw the team go 7-3-1 through November; however, with an 0-3-1 record over their last four games, the Broncos will be a motivated group to get back to their winning ways.

Humboldt has been amongst the league leaders at the top of the standings virtually all season long, sitting tied for the second most points right now, just passed the half-way mark of the season, with a 19-9-3 record, good for 41 points through their first 31 games.

It appears as though the Broncos are only getting stronger too, as the team recently acquired forward Mitch Zambon from the La Ronge Ice Wolves. Zambon, who racked up 12 goals and 30 points in 26 games with La Ronge this season, made his debut with Humboldt’s green and yellow in the club’s last game against Yorkton, picking up an assist in the contest.

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The Zambon acquisition only adds to an already dynamic attack up front, as Drew Warkentine who faces up front for the Broncos, has scored an eye-catching seven goals in his first seven games with the team, earning him SJHL Player of the Week honours.

Michael Clarke and Brayden Camrud offensive play this season has Clarke sitting just outside the top five in the league scoring race with 38 points through his first 30 games, and Camrud not far behind, with 31 points, despite missing six games this season.

The North Stars will counter their divisional foe’s offensive attack with a premier contingent of their own up front that will see a new face in the lineup tonight, as Dayton Heino, who was acquired over the weekend from the Neepawa Natives of the MJHL, will make his Stars debut this evening. 

Providing a mix of skill and experience, with already over 130 games under his belt at the SJHL level before moving to the Manitoba league, Heino is expected to suit up alongside Brett Gammer and Elijah Loon-Stewardson on the Stars’ third line, providing added offensive spark and creativity to the unit.

North Stars’ head coach and general manager, Brayden Klimosko said the acquisition of Heino offers the team flexibility within the lineup and improves the depth of the group as a whole.

“He just gives us so many more options now,” Klimosko said. “The trickledown effect of adding someone like [Heino] is that basically we’re running four lines now that can play against anyone.”

MacGregor Sinclair, who is coming off a three-point night against the Hounds Friday, leads the team in points with 33 heading into action and will be joined by Ryan Gil and Quintin Loon-Stewardson on a line that has continued to build chemistry over their last half-month together.

Owen Lamb and Matthias Urbanski, the team’s top two goal scorers, will once again reunite on a line centered by Braydon Buziak, while line four will comprise once again of Kaden Boser lining up between Austin Becker and Dylan Esau.

The two lines combined for two goals in the Stars’ last game against Notre Dame, with Becker’s fourth of the season proving to be the game winner, and Buziak’s tally offering some added insurance as the game went along.

On the backend, the North Stars will need a big night from their defense-core if the team hopes to shut down the weaponry of the Broncos. Cody Spagrud and Tanner Scott will be relied upon heavily to play an in-your-face brand of defence, while also featuring in on the offensive punch from the blue line, as evidenced by Spagrud’s multipoint effort last game, that moved him into third on the defenceman scoring charts.

Seth Summers will return to the lineup tonight, after missing the last two games due to an upper body injury, rejoining Matthew Fletcher on the second tandem. Fletcher and Seth Summers together supply the Stars with another duo who thrive in a matchup role against the opposition’s best.

Austin Shumanski and Noah Form on the team’s third pairing will be counted on to provide their side with a physical and aggressive front for the Broncos’ forwards to contend with, while also displaying smart and steady positional play.

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

North Stars lineup at a glance

Forwards:

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

M. Urbanski, B. Buziak, O. Lamb

E. Loon-Stewardson, B. Gammer, D. Heino

A. Becker, K. Boser, D. Esau

Defencemen:

T. Scott, C. Spagrud

S. Summers, M. Fletcher

A. Shumanski, N. Form

Goaltenders:

J. Grzybowski

C. Duran

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1