The Battlefords North Stars have dwindled down the roster and Thursday morning it will be officially announced.
How'd did the coaches get to that point?
After losing twice to the AJHL's Lloydminster Bobcats, the North Stars hosted the MJHL's Dauphin Kings in a two-game home stand Friday and Saturday resulting in a win and a loss.
A handful of players who weren't at camp were given opportunities to help improve the hockey club and after two weeks of practice, game and exhibition games the season is just days away.
"Exhibition games are for evaluating and measuring what you have and where you need to get to," said head coach Kevin Hasselberg. "Exhibition was very valuable for us. For me personally I didn't know any of the players. For the coaching staff it gauges now where we want to get to and what we have to do to get there."
Friday, once again, it was a younger lineup dressed for the North Stars, as they took on Dauphin. The Kings started the game energetic and with some aggression, but the North Stars drew first blood when Tanner Quinn forced a turnover, scooped up the lose puck and backhanded it by the Dauphin goalie.
The Kings responded and led 2-1 after the first period, but in the second the North Stars' offence busted out.
Ryne Keller, Jared Samborski and Bond Hawryluk scored for the North Stars while Dauphin responded with a single of their own.
Sam Prpich added an insurance goal in the third period for the North Stars and they skated to a 5-3 win.
Connor Creech, who the North Stars acquired in a trade earlier in the week from the Bonnyville Pontiacs for future considerations, started and was relieved half way through the period by Jared Knott, who together made more than 30 saves.
"We are very happy with all of our goaltenders in camp, so much so that they need to keep proving themselves before we make a decision," said Hasselberg who has decided to keep both Creech and Knott along with returning goalie Graham Hildebrand, at least for the beginning of the season.
The next night, Hildebrand and most of the veterans drew back into the lineup, but couldn't get the sweep of the Kings. Grayden Turner, Blake Tatchell and Brett Miller scored for the North Stars, but a slow start and two third period goals by Dauphin's Jesse Smatynski help Dauphin earn the split.
Hildebrand played the entire game for the North Stars.
The North Stars now have just two days of practice and the season begins for real with a home-and-home series against the Kindersley Klippers and the roster will be announced Thursday morning.
"We are extremely happy with our forward group. There is a good mixture of skill and grit" said Hasselberg adding "The team speed is at a level that will be very competitive in this league. The pieces are there we just have to put the puzzle together."
One aspect of the roster that took more of a hit than expected coming into this season was the defence core. After losing Cody Folstad who graduated, Woody Klassen, who will be trying out in the ECHL at the end of the month, and Brody Luhning, who appears to have a roster spot with the Regina Pats of the WHL, there appears to be some uncertainty to this point.
"That is one of those holes that we have to improve," said Hasselberg of his defence. "You can't afford to lose a Brody Luhning and Woody Klassen and assume you will be fine. We know that. The season is still young so we have a lot of time to address that, whether we are developing the players we have here or whether we are looking for players to fill those roles."
The North Stars hit the ice Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Civic Centre and have one key thing the coaching staff wants them to focus on.
"We have got to know how to compete," said Hasselberg. "That is something that will be taught all season long, but come this weekend we want to make sure our competitive level is were it needs to be."
The North Stars will introduce their new roster Thursday at the kickoff breakfast at the Civic Centre from 7 to 8:15 a.m. and then the waiting and analysing will be finished and the games will matter.
