After playing in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League as member of the Battlefords Midget Stars, the next step is junior hockey for most players.
For some that means junior A or B, but for a select few the next step is the Western Hockey League.
Despite the team success the Stars have had in recent years, the production rate of the players moving up to the junior ranks has forced coaches and scouts to take notice of the program in the Battlefords.
A veteran of the WHL, Jordan Fransoo, who started his junior career with the Brandon Wheat Kings was traded last season at the trade deadline to the Victoria Royals. Fransoo, the 63? defender, has played 134 regular season games in the WHL and has nine goals and 30 assists to go along with 128 penalty minutes. Fransoo played 30 games with the Royals last season and will be counted on to lead by example this season. Fransoo also has WHL playoff experience, as he played four games in 2012 with Brandon, six games in 2011 with the Wheat Kings and four more last season with Victoria. Fransoo played one season with the Stars recording one goal and four assists in 28 games during the 2008-09 campaign.
Cody Thiel played defence with the Stars from 2009 to '11 and is now looking to continue his WHL career. Last season, Thiel played 53 games with the Red Deer Rebels recording two goals and six assists along with 37 penalty minutes. This season, Thiel has played three pre-season games and looks to be a mainstay on the Rebels' defence corp. Thiel had one goal and 13 assists in 44 games with the Stars in his rookie season. Thiel was among the team leaders in points his next season, recording nine goals and 13 assists for the Stars.
Colby Cave got his first taste of the WHL during the 2010-11 season when he played one game with the Swift Current Broncos. Last season, the high draft pick of the Broncos played 70 regular season games at centre as a rookie in Swift Current last season. Cave notched six goals and 10 assists and is expected to take on more of an offensive role this season. Already in four pre-season games Cave has a goal and an assist with the Broncos. Cave played 42 games with the Stars during the 2009-10 season and was second in points with 15 goals and 21 assists that season. He matched his point total the next season with 14 goals and 22 assists to lead the team.
Centre Dylan Fluter played nine WHL games with Tri-City and is attempting to make the Calgary Hitmen's roster this season. Through three pre-season games, Fluter, the 18-year-old forward, has recorded three assists with the Hitmen and was one of 17 forwards listed on the pre-season roster in Calgary. Fluter, a Saskatoon product, had 10 goals and 15 assists in 2009-10 with the Stars in 43 games. The next season he had 11 goals and 19 assists in 42 games.
