The roster is set - for now anyways.
The Battlefords North Stars held their annual kick off breakfast Wednesday morning and along with the food the much-anticipated release of the 2012-13 roster was eaten up by the Battlefords North Stars' supporters.
"Last year, the players did whatever it took to be successful and this year it is our goal to go beyond that and obviously exceed our expectations," said head coach and general manager Kevin Hasselberg before the players were introduced.
Although changes could be coming in the near future to get under 25 players, those still with the team as of Wednesday introduced themselves.
Wednesday, 26 players were introduced to the billets and sponsors at the breakfast and one more was scheduled to arrive later that day, as Kyle Schmidt was reassigned from the Western Hockey League's Saskatoon Blades to the North Stars.
Those at the breakfast include returning netminder Connor Creech, a 1992-born goalie from Lloydminster while the other goalies on the roster include Michael Gudmanson a 1993-born goalie from Sherwood Park, Alta. and Casey Parker, a 1995-born goalie from Regina, who hasn't played a game yet, as he is recovering from a concussion.
Returning on defence is 1992-born Brody Luhning from Lumsden and Grayden Turner of Saskatoon, and 1993-born Dillon Forbes from Battleford and Matt Sheeran of Victoria, B.C. The new defenceman include 1992-born Evan Ripley of Kitimat, B.C., 1994-born Cody Bird of Wainwright, Alta. and Spencer Gosselin of Wainwright, Alta.
Returning forwards include 1992-born Kyle Hall of Assiniboia, Braeden Johnson of Saskatoon and Roger Tagoona of Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, 1993-born Tanner Quinn of Winnipeg, Man. and Robbie Newton of Saskatoon and 1994-born Ryne Keller of Wilkie.
The list of new forwards include 1993-born Brandon Long of Calgary, Alta., Ben Greenaway of West Kelowna, B.C., 1994-born Blake Young of Battleford, Carter Danczak of the Battlefords, Austin Evans of Whistler, B.C., Josh Betinol of Okotoks, Alta., Nick Fountain of Wainwright, Alta., Bryden Serafini of Cut Knife and Luke McColgan of Manhattan Beach, Calif. The lone 1995-born forward on the roster is Jake McMillen of Carievale.
"We have a lot of quality and character young men here today who are going to represent our program moving forward and we are excited to introduce them," said Hasselberg.
The North Stars pre-season and evaluation period officially ends Friday when the team opens the season in Kindersley and the players are looking forward to the season.
"We are excited to get the season going," said Luhning. "We have a good, big group of guys going and we are excited."
Along with the new roster there are new pieces of the coaching staff joining Hasselberg, who is in his second season with the team. Assistant coach Blair Atcheynum is back with the North Stars, as is Greg Shepherd in a limited role. Joining the coaching staff and providing hours of evaluation time throughout the pre-season is Ryleigh Campbell. The new athletic therapist and team trainer is Michelle Beatty and Mandy Lehman will do yoga training and work with the mental side of training for athletics with the players. Jillian Miller is also back in her second season as the team's office and marketing manager.
The Battlefords will get their first chance to see the official roster Saturday when Kinderlsey returns to the Civic Centre. The anticipated buzz around the team is looming and the Battlefords appear ready for North Stars' hockey once again.
"This is by far the most exciting and most passionate community that I have been involved in in junior A hockey," said Hasselberg. "Without the support of our community and the players embracing this community when they get there we wouldn't have the success we have."
Luhning echoed those thoughts saying "I think we had the best fans bar none last year, so without the NHL I think we will get way more fans this year."
A North Stars' roster note - 1994-born defenceman Connor Sutton, whose junior A rights were acquired by the North Stars in a trade this summer, is still playing pre-season hockey games in the WHL with the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
