Just one year ago, the Battlefords AAA Stars were one of the best teams in the SMAAAHL, finishing in fourth place during the regular season with an impressive record of 28-15-0-1.
The season provided a platform for numerous players to move on and play with teams across Saskatchewan at the Junior A level.
Layne Young, who led the team in points with 31 goals and 32 assists, is now enjoying a successful season with the Battlefords North Stars, leading all rookies in scoring. Young has put up tremendous numbers thus far with 16 goals and 36 assists, good for 10th in the SJHL. Coming into the year, the young forward had no idea he would be so successful, exceeding his own expectations.
Braydon Buziak and Troy Gerein accompanied him with his move to the North Stars, both contributing on a nightly basis to the top ranked team in the league.
The Stars lost their second leading scorer in Brandon Lesko to the Flin Flon Bombers of the SJHL as well.
Kaelan Holt also had a cup of coffee with the AAA Stars before moving on to play with the Estevan Bruins, where he is also enjoying a successful season. In 39 games, Holt has amassed 21 points, with six goals and 15 assists.
The 2014-15 version of the Stars was one full of talent. It was a team that expected to win every time they hit the ice, showcasing their abilities on both sides of the puck. Once the season was over and the story came to an end with a second place finish in the playoffs, these players, among others, went their separate ways, leaving a giant hole and some big shoes to fill for the current roster.
This was a test the 2015-16 AAA Stars have taken as a challenge, one they are running with. A young team with 15 rookies, including both goaltenders, have risen their game to a different level and are beginning to form a club that is turning heads here in the second half of the season. New top scorers have emerged, first-year players have turned into veterans and confidence is on display between each whistle.
Keelan Saworski, among those top scorers this season, had the opportunity to play with the 2014 Stars and produce in their deep playoff run. He comments on the team mentality for this year’s squad before the season began.
“Knowing that there is a lot of new guys and faces in the league and on the team, we wanted to hopefully make the playoffs. That’s what the expectations were coming in, knowing that we weren’t a team that will score a bunch of goals on a day-to-day basis. Everyone would have to do their part,” Saworski said.
Prior to the midway point of the campaign, the Stars’ playoff chances were dwindling out of reach, having not registered a point in five games. They were locked into tenth place and were dropping off the radar, quickly. However, a nineteen-day break away from hockey seemed to work wonders for the Stars, coming back from the holidays with a vengeance.
“I think everyone is just playing simple, trying not to do too much. The guys came back with a different attitude,” Saworski said. “For some, the first half was a learning experience, trying to adjust to the league. Everyone now has the confidence that we can play with anyone in the league and everyone is doing their own part. Everyone believes in one another.”
After rattling off five straight wins before splitting a series with the second place Moose Jaw Generals, the Battlefords reignited their drive for the postseason, currently sitting in seventh and in a solid position to make the dance at the end of the year.
It started with a televised 3-2 win over the Saskatoon Blazers. Rookie goaltender and Edmonton Oil Kings draft pick, Lance Alm, broke out as a goaltender that the Stars can rely on. After making 29 saves, none bigger than a breakaway stop late in the third to salvage the lead, the Battlefords began their dominance. Alm later put together a massive, 51-save performance against the Contacts. Jake Taylor has also done his part in the crease, walking away with a tremendous 28-save performance against Swift Current to keep the winning streak alive and well.
“The goaltending has improved over the year,” Saworski continued, “they are playing with more confidence themselves. Each and every day I can tell they are getting better and they are letting us play instead of us worrying about the defence. We know they have our back in case we make a mistake out there and we know that we will get that big save late in the period."
The key word here is confidence. The black and white are chalk-full of it, and despite thinking they aren’t a team that can put the puck in the net, goal scorers are developing. Owen Lamb, who played 44 games for the 2014 Stars, now leads the crowded rookie lineup in scoring, ranked 15th in the league, and is becoming a leader on the ice with his play. Both he and Saworski, ranked 19th, have had a fantastic second half thus far. Lamb has recorded one goal and five assists in six games, while Keelan has three goals and four helpers. Their linemate, Tanner Brewster, has also chipped in with a mark and three assists.
On the defensive end it is the 2001 born WHL prospect, Luke Reid, that has been playing above his years. The two-way defenceman leads the way for all blue-liners on the team in goals with five, while veteran Dawson Bacon has done a great job quarterbacking the power play, and is second on the team with 14 helpers.
No matter how you look at this season, the pieces are starting to fall into place for this young Stars team. The drive for the playoffs is alive and new faces are not only contributing, but are thriving. If 2016 is any indication as to what this team is capable of, then the black and white has what it takes to be an absolute force the rest of the way.
