The success of the Battlefords North Stars over the last two seasons hasn't gone unnoticed.
The defending Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League champions were ranked fourth nationally as the Canadian Junior Hockey League released their 2017-18 pre-season Top 20 poll Thursday.
Leading the way are the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League, with the Alberta Junior Hockey League's Brooks Bandits and the Central Canada Hockey League's Carleton Place Canadians rounding out the top three.
Last year's RBC Cup champions, the Cobourg Cougars of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, sit one spot behind the North Stars and are just ahead of the BCHL's Chilliwack Chiefs, who will be hosting this year's tournament.
The North Stars are the only team in the SJHL that cracked the Top 20 rankings, which were led by three teams each from the AJHL, BCHL and the OJHL.
After an off-day, the North Stars will resume their exhibition slate Friday night with a 7:30 p.m. battle with the Kindersley Klippers at the Civic Centre.
Following their 8-2 road loss to the Humboldt Broncos Wednesday, the North Stars made their moves to their roster and now have 29 players on the team following cuts.
No longer with the North Stars are goaltenders Dawson Rodin and Jake Taylor, defencemen Hunter Cuthbert, Noah Form, Brayden Pruden and Dawson Vallier, and forwards Colton Adair, Michael Curran, Zach Horn, Justin McKinlay, Tanner Robin and Logan Spence.
Just two nerminders remain on the team as Austin Prior is paired with returning starter Taryn Kotchorek, while Joel Grzybowski continues to battle for a spot with the WHL's Saskatoon Blades.
Defensively, returning players Conor Jensen, Levi Kleiboer, Connor Manegre and Cody Spagrud remain, along with new faces Jayden Cantre, Anthony Cuglietta, Mathew Fletcher, Michael Fradette, Sunil Sahota and Austin Wieler.
Dune Wald, who was with the Humboldt Broncos earlier in the pre-season, has joined the North Stars for this weekend on the blueline.
Up front, Troy Gerein, Owen Lamb, MacGregor Sinclair and Layne Young are in the mix to return for another campaign, as are former affilate players Connor McIntosh and Jayden Nachtegaele.
Also battling for a spot are Keith Anderson, Tre Doyon, Dayden Dvernichuk, Blake Fennig, Dakota Huebner, Elijah Loon-Stewardson, Ryland McNinch, Ryan Rothenburger, Josh Sielsky, Jacob Tibbats and Matthias Urbanski.
Just one game took place in the SJHL Thursday, as the Notre Dame Hounds defeated the Klippers 4-1 in a neutral site game in Ochapowace.
Chaz Smedrsud had a goal and assist for the Hounds, with Colby Brandt, Marshall Wilton and Connor Mylymok also scoring.
Jordan Funk replied for the Klippers in the loss.
