Dear Editor
It must be spring and the flowers are in bloom, because everything just looks pretty at the Civic Centre with the Battlefords North Stars displaying some awesome looking tick-tack-toe passing leading to breathtaking goals.
Well, it isn’t spring just yet, but the play of our Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League club has been tremendous up to this point in the season. With just a few games left in the regular season, they are perched at the top of the standings, a place where they have been most comfortable for the majority of the season. And with this bunch of dedicated players, they aren’t about to roll over until they attain their ultimate goal of winning a league championship. And they have the supreme ability to do so, based on their stellar play throughout the season.
There is no quit in these young men. They battle through adversity. The key to their performance is their dedication to the concept of playing for each other, the key ingredient in any team success in sports. They are all accountable to each other. These Stars continue to fine tune their individual talents, meshing their contributions into a well-oiled machine. And they are a machine, grinding it out shift after shift, rolling out one line after another, and making the other team sit back and look like dumbfounded creatures of nature blinded by their opponents’ headlights.
The North Stars players have individual talents that have molded into a team that is capable of winning a championship. So, at this point in the season, let’s take a brief look at some of our young warriors:
No. 1 - Taryn Kotchorek. A brilliant young goaltender who has played a vital role in the success of the team this season. Taryn has been a surprise gift for Coach Kevin Hasselberg and has provided the depth at goaltending that will be a benefit once playoff time rolls around. Taryn has a bright future with the club.
No. 2 - Connor Sych. For half of this season, the writer was lamenting the thought of Connor leaving for college to play hockey in the States next season. Thankfully, his Dad corrected me on that … relief! Connor has such intelligent and skilled defensive judgment, and has shown his ability to provide an accurate shot from the point. He is a well-rounded player who is arguably the best defenceman in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. We are blessed to witness his talent.
No. 3 - Cody Spagrud. Another first-year player, but who has displayed veteran savvy and has been a stabilizing force in the back end for the North Stars. Cody is a smooth skater who shows a dedication to solid defensive play, but picks his spots admirably when carrying the puck into the offensive zone.
No. 4 - Ryan Rosenberg. Here is a young man who has improved steadily during his first year with the club. He struggled, at times, early in the season, but is rounding into form and is expected to be a force on defence come playoff time.
No. 6 - Kendall Fransoo. In the past, Kendall had shown a propensity to be in the penalty box. However, this season, he has become wiser and has thus been a more consistent contributor to the club on the ice. You can see the fire in his eyes and he is willing to sacrifice for the good of his team. He is a leader whose skills have also improved greatly this past season. This is building up to be a positive playoff for this solid performer.
No. 7 - Conor Jensen. You have to love the kids that come out of Minnesota (where are you Jake Erickson?). Conor is such a smooth skater who is adept at turning on a dime and carrying the puck out of the defensive zone with ease. With time and experience, his offensive play and goal scoring ability will come to the forefront in the North Stars defensive core.
No. 8 - Jake McMillen. So, aren’t we glad Jake decided to come back to our team for his final year of hockey. Jake has smooth hands and is adept at dipsy doodling around the opponent’s defence. Thanks for coming back, Jake! You will be a leader in the post-season.
No. 9 - Layne Young. Worth the price of admission. Ahhh! The writer goes “ga ga” over his marvelous talent.
No. 10 - Baxter Kanter. Baxter is our constant physical presence whose signature play is his strong skating strides down the left wing, blustering in to our opponent’s defensive zone. Baxter is a valuable member of the club who has shown improvement in playing within the rules and staying out of the penalty box. He is a needed presence on the ice.
No. 11 - Troy Gerein. A rookie who has displayed the leadership abilities of a veteran, playing hard every shift and has been a solid two-way player, as he has the ability to play defence or forward.
No. 12 - Logan Nachtegaele. A local product who is continuing to improve his game. Logan is a young player who grinds out every available shift. He is a good example of a team player.
No. 14 - Levi Kleiboer. Height disadvantaged for a defenseman, but has displayed an ability to be very shifty on the back end. Levi will be a valuable player for the foreseeable future, and will need to nurture his defensive and offensive talents while learning to pick his spots when trying to be evasive in the defensive zone. Levi is my Boer warrior.
No. 15 - Rory Davidson. A mid-season addition to the club who started slowly, but has become a force in shutting down the opposition team’s offensive talents, using his blazing speed. He will be a key performer for the club when the post-season begins.
No. 16 - Coby Downs. Okay, we need to change the age restriction rule for the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and allow this guy to play here until he is, say 25. What a terrific talent whose effort and talent will suit playoff hockey.
No. 17 - Bryce Hall. This is an individual whose talent is just waiting to explode. Bryce has the ability to be a solid contributor with his puck carrying ability and offensive skill.
No. 19 - Dustin Gorgi. Just put Dustin in the slot and let him do his magic with that hockey wand. Adept at tip-ins from the point, but also has the ability to power skate around the opposing defence. Dustin is a tireless worker who has contributed mightily to the club this season. As a veteran, he will be depended upon to provide solid leadership in the post-season.
No. 20 - Reed Delainey. Reed is off the injury shelf and back on the ice. A wee bit of an inconsistent season, but Reed will be looked upon to have an eventful playoff, providing his usual skating ability that enhances his offensive and defensive play.
No. 22 - Jordan Townsend. You have to love seeing a line with Jordan and Baxter. When they are together, and skating with abandon, they provide great skill in forechecking. They can also change the tempo of the game and provide a great deal of energy to the team.
No. 23 - Braydon Buziak. Braydon is an impressive rookie who will be a contributor for the club in future seasons. His dedication to getting better each and every time he is out on the ice is evident in his eyes and in his willingness to learn. Braydon is willing to sacrifice for his mates, and will be a terrific contributor in the playoffs with his up-tempo play and willingness to forecheck incessantly.
No. 25 - Igor Leonenko. There were times in previous seasons when Igor could frustrate the heck out of you. He is such a talent, but injuries inhibited his full potential. However, this season has been a different story. Igor’s play is simply majestic. And, he has shown the heart and soul of a warrior who has the ability to put the team on his shoulders and carry them through those close games that are inevitable in the playoffs. Igor is a big man who has shown a bigger heart this season.
No. 29 - Jordan Weist. This guy is the prototypical stand-up guy who will never give up, whose play has always been proof positive to his teammates that you push yourself for the betterment of the team. Jordan has led by example throughout the year and has been an inspiration to anyone who has watched his constant effort.
No. 30 - Tyler Fuhr. A late-season addition from the Estevan Bruins, Tyler will add veteran goaltending depth off the bench come playoff time. We have witnessed solid play from Tyler when he played for the Bruins and we should anticipate similar stellar play in his final days of junior hockey.
No. 35 - Ryan Rewerts. It appeared Ryan struggled with confidence in his play for much of the past season. That was unfortunate as he had been given the reins to backstop the club at the start of the season. However, he has appeared to display a better grasp of being able to stay focused for 60 minutes and to not allow the easy goal. To his credit, he has battled back and has become a solid puck stopper for the club. It was a stroke of genius by Coach Hasselberg to acquire another veteran presence late in the season, both to provide depth and to increase the level of competition in the nets.
Coach Hasselberg and his trusted assistant Braeden Johnson have molded the players into a championship level team and they have been the key to keeping their young phenoms on an even keel and focused on the big prize. But, perhaps more important than that is Kevin and Braeden’s fashion display, with exquisite suits and jackets and bold ties, that has provided a nostalgic look at the past when we witnessed the superb tailoring exhibited by Blair Atcheynum. It almost makes me want to put on a suit – almost.
North Stars hockey and its fans have been blessed with an exciting club this season. Even though it has been a success, to this point, in winning the Finning Division Championship, all involved with the club know the work is not complete. The league championship is within their reach. All they need to do is focus, dedicate their play to each other, and play hard every shift, overcoming any adversity that they may experience in the long grind of the post season. They have a tremendous hockey club. Let’s hope the community packs the Civic Centre for all the remaining games and, certainly, for the playoffs. The team is a treat to watch. Oh, and by the way, let’s get a new hockey rink built.
Go, STARS, Go!
Garnet W. Elmer
North Battleford
