North Stars mid-season roster reflection: part two

Upon acquiring Doig from Okotoks of the AJHL prior to the team’s second game of the season against the rival Klippers, Stars’ head coach and GM, Brayden Klimosko had this to say about the Old, Alta., product:

“He’s a hard working kid,” he said. “[Doig’s] going to be a guy that I think the Battlefords will soon love. He works hard, wears his heart on his sleeve every night and he’s going be a guy who really leads by example, we’re looking forward to having him in the mix for sure.”

Over his first three months with the team, Doig has lived up to Klimosko’s expectations and fit in nicely as a multi-faceted player able to mesh with several line combinations.

MacGregor Sinclair #19:

MacGregor Sinclair leads the Stars in points at the Christmas break, having racked up 36 points (12 goals, 24 assists) through his first 33 games.

The straw that stirs the drink on the Stars’ top power play unit, controlling the puck and directing traffic from the half-wall, Sinclair has also proven to be a staple on the penalty kill, logging prominent minutes for his team in every game situation.

Showcasing precision passing and ample poise with the puck on his stick, Perhaps the best compliment paid to the 20-year-old Irma, Alta., product came from then-assistant coach of the North Stars, Brett Parker, who when asked about Sinclair’s performance following a three-point outing simply shrugged and said, “What can you say? Sinc[lair] is Sinc[lair]; he’s been doing it all year.”

Austin Shumanski #20:

Standing tall at 6’6, 225 lbs, the physically imposing, Austin Shumanski is a nightmare in waiting for opposition forwards thinking of breaking into the Stars’ zone down their right-side boards.

With a wingspan to rival that of an albatross, Shumanski’s reach allows him to swat pucks off onrushing forwards with relative ease, often times then crunching the perpetrator in colossal fashion just for good measure.

Growing up as the neighbor to Stars’ netminder Joel Grzybowski, it’s no secret the goalie known as “Gryz” was an advocate for the team’s pursuit of the shutdown defender.

“We live about two miles apart and I remember telling Brayden (Klimosko) he’s out there and we can acquire him,” Grzybowski said.

Just passed the midway-mark of the year, with Shumanski a mainstay on the Stars’ backend logging minutes in key situations game-over-game, the goaltender’s recruitment seems to have worked out well for all involved.

Owen Lamb #21:

Stars’ alternate captain Owen Lamb has already established career highs in goals (16) and points (26), while also matching his previous high water mark for assists with 10.

Showcasing terrific durability and versatility, the North Battleford hometown product has played in every game for his team this season, while lining up at all three forward positions.

“He does anything for ya and everything for ya,” coach Klimosko said of Lamb. “He just works really hard and outworks guys. We’re rewarding him with lots of ice, and I’m just gonna use him more and more because he just keeps doing what we’re asking and more; he’s been awesome.”

In addition to his on-ice play and locker room leadership, Lamb was recently recognized for his volunteer efforts outside the rink by the SJHL as community ambassador for the North Stars’ organization

Quintin Loon-Stewardson #22:

Coming off a performance that saw the younger Loon-Stewardson score the overtime game winner against the league leading Nipawin Hawks, bringing in the holiday season on a high note for his team, Quintin Loon-Stewardson has impressed in his rookie season, placing sixth amongst all freshmen in goals through the midway mark of the year with seven so far.

“I like to play an in-your-face style; I like to use my speed and shoot the puck,” he said when asked to describe his playing style, and as Stars’ fans have witnessed since early November, Loon-Stewardson’s shot is one to fear.

It’s not all that hard to find the proverbial turning point for Loon-Stewardson’s season. Whether it be due to the change of month or just breathing in that southern Saskatchewan air, “Q-Loon,” as he’s known by teammates entered action the weekend of Nov. 2 still looking for his first goal of the season, but after stops in Estevan, Weyburn and Wilcox, the offense had suddenly clicked for the product of Sioux Lookout, ON., with the forward collecting three goals in three nights on the weekend.

The North Stars will be counting on Loon-Stewardson to continue to be a difference maker as the season converges on its back-half after Christmas.

Braydon Buziak #23:

With fiery intensity and an undeniable competitive drive, Stars’ forward Braydon Buziak sits fifth in team scoring in both goals and points with a 10-15-25 stat line through his first 34 games.

Born and raised in Kindersley originally, Buziak moved to the Battlefords five years ago, and is coming up on his 100th career game in the Saskatchewan league, sitting at 91 career games heading into Christmas.

Having also experienced playing over 120 games at the WHL level, the 20-year-old, Buziak wears an “A” for this Stars team, offering experience and a workman-like attitude with an edge, as evidenced by his 72 penalty minutes, which lead the team by a large margin.

Asked what the most important thing is to remember for young Stars’ fans hoping to play for the Stars one day, Buziak said it all comes back to a passion for the game and work ethic to match.

“I think just go out there and have fun. Go out there and enjoy what you’re doing every single day, and work hard,” he said.

Kaden Boser #24:

A wrecking ball on skates, Kaden Boser’s first season in the SJHL has seen the Saskatoon, Sask., born forward introduce himself to several opposition defensemen in a manner they’d rather not repeat. Whether knocking down d-men on an aggressive offensive forecheck, or formally introducing himself to the time keeper in the penalty box after a post-whistle scrum, Boser has shown just why he was the 2018 Most Dedicated Player Award recipient with the Saskatoon Blazers last season.

Reflecting on his time with the Blazers, Boser said the connections with teammates such as Noah Form and Matthew Fletcher who also cut their teeth with Saskatoon provided a great sense of comradery right from the get-go this season within the group.

“It’s very nice, we played together for about two years, so I got to know them pretty well,” Boser said. Now having them on this team just made it more comfortable.”

That off-ice comradery has been a big reason for the team’s success this year.

Elijah Loon-Stewardson #25:

A two-way winger with playmaking chops and defensive prowess to boot, Elijah Loon-Stewardson has proven in his first 79 games of SJHL experience to be a clutch performer with a penchant for seizing the moment and making big plays with the game on the line.

Following a strong postseason last spring that saw the then-rookie put up five points in eight games including scoring the overtime game winner in game 4 of the Stars’ first round sweep of the Weyburn Red Wings to clinch the series for his team, Loon-Stewardson’s big-game mentality has been showcased several more times through the first half of the year.

The Stars’ first win of the season came courtesy of a Matthias Urbanski goal set up by Loon-Stewardson. The elder Loon-Stewardson also picked up the primary assist on his brother Quintin’s overtime winner in the Stars’ clutch win over the defending-champion Nipawin Hawks Dec. 16, to tip the scales in the Stars’ favor with a win in their final game before the Christmas break.

Seth Summers #27:

Listed at 6’1 184 lbs, Seth Summers is a tall defenseman with a long and effortless stride.

When asked how he came to develop that excellent mobility up-and-down ice, Summers’ said it all comes down to practice.

“I was in a lot of power skating camps and it’s just working on your skating every day. Working hard and getting better every day, every chance you get.”

Due largely to his sublime balance on his skates, and powerful stride, the recently-turned 19-year-old, Summers has proven to be a big advocate of the old school hip-check. When opposition forwards are buzzing down their right wing side, they must be aware of Summers on the ice, or like a vintage Rob Blake, the defender will back into his target with speed, causing the on-rusher think about dumping and chasing next time instead.

Dylan Esau #28:

The youngest player on the North Stars, and the lone member of the team still taking high school classes, at just 17-years-old, it doesn’t seem like that long ago that Dylan Esau was a fan in the stands, attending North Stars’ games growing up.

“I came to a few North Stars’ games as a kid,” Esau said. “I’ve always wanted to play here and play at this level, and I’ve really enjoyed being here,” he added.

The Stars’ brass has enjoyed having him as well, as Esau has proven himself to be a reliable weapon on the penalty kill for the Stars’ coaching staff, while also showing superb versatility within the lineup, having the ability to play all three forward positions. Esau’s rookie year has seen the forward continue to gain confidence, seemingly by the game.

Logan Spence #29:

For most people, the idea of an encounter with a bear is a scary one. For Stars’ rookie Logan Spence, at least in a hockey rink, it’s a matchup that has the 18-year-old licking his chops.

A true Bruin killer, each of Spence’s two goals and four points this season, have come against the Estevan Bruins.

While certainly not the biggest player in the world, listed at just 5’8, 184 lbs, Spence is not one to shy away from the physicality, embodying a fearlessness and dogged determination on the forecheck to make even the biggest defensemen hear footsteps when going back to retrieve pucks with Spence hot in pursuit on the ice.

A native of North Battleford originally, Spence said suiting up wearing the North Stars’ crest has been a dream come true this season.

“I grew up watching the North Stars and it’s pretty cool to get the chance to play for them too,” he said.

Chad Duran #1:

Since being acquired from La Ronge in late November, “Duran the Man,” has lived up to his nickname.

The Littleton, CO., product has now stopped a total 69 of the 74 shots he’s faced since donning the Stars’ crest, good for a .932sv% over the span.

Growing up in Colorado, Duran said being a fan of NHL Hall-of-Famer Patrick Roy was ultimately what inspired him to dawn the pads and tend goal.

“I’m definitely an Avs fan and Patrick Roy was the man back then, and that’s actually how I got started with goal,” he said. “I just hope I’m not letting the man Patty Roy down in doing it,” he added with a laugh.

After picking up his first win as a Star just prior to Christmas, Duran should factor in as an integral piece of the Stars’ goaltending situation, allowing for more nights off for Grzybowski, as the team gets set for the stretch run.

Adam Dmyterko #35

In four appearances with the Stars this season, Adam Dmyterko has made the most of his opportunity. Coming away with two wins in his three starts, not including a relief performance that saw the Saskatoon, Sask., product stop each of the eight shots he faced, Dmyterko has posted a .913sv% this year.

As the Player Profile earlier this year, Dmyterko said the love of the goaltending position is something that runs in his family.

My dad always wanted to play goalie, so when I told him I wanted to be a goalie he had no problem with that,” the 18-year-old said. “I just thought it looked fun. I played [out] growing up, but I’d always play in net for road hockey and when the chance came up on the ice I took it.”

The North Stars will return from the Christmas break Dec. 28 against the division-rival Kindersley Klippers in Kindersley. Fans of the North Stars can catch all the action on 1050 CJNB beginning with the pregame show at 7:15 p.m.

by Martin Martinson

North Stars mid-season roster reflection: part two

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