“Earn everything,” is a message Head Coach Kevin Hasselberg instilled into his team in 2015.
The message has been well received.
From top to bottom, the Battlefords North Stars have shown they are contenders and have the ability to earn what they desire, which, in the end, is the Canalta Cup.
So far, they have gained recognition from around the league as a dominant force, as they should, sitting in first place in the Finning Division as well as the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League with 55 points.
Their latest victories against Estevan and Kindersley also sky-rocketed them in the Canadian Junior Hockey League rankings. They are now ranked 12th in the country.
Igor Leonenko (27 G, 25 A) has established himself as one of the leagues’ elite scorers on and off the power play thus far, using his big frame and strong shot to generate scoring chance after scoring chance, but he hasn’t done it alone.
Jake McMillen (25 G, 23 A), Layne Young (13 G, 28 A), Coby Downs (15 G, 20 A) and Dustin Gorgi (17 G, 19 A) all accompany the forward from Belarus in the top 20 for scoring. Reed Delainey (10 G, 17 A) isn't far off.
Defensively they have been anchored by captain Kendall Fransoo and leading scorer for all blue-liners, Connor Sych (9 G 16 A). Along with Jordan Wiest and Cody Spagrud, the defensive unit has been strong in front of their goalie all season long, allowing just 103 goals against, good for fourth in the SJHL. Spagrud leads all rookie defencemen with 20 points.
North Battlefords born and bred goaltender, Taryn Kotchorek, was fantastic in between the pipes in 2015. Coming from the AA Barons, Kotchorek has shown that he not only can compete in the SJHL, but can thrive in his role as a starting netminder. He leads the league with four shutouts, his record reads 12-3-1-2, while hosting a 1.91 GAA and a .925 save percentage.
Special teams has played a strong factor into why the North Stars are currently the top team in the province. The power play deployed every game has converted the second-most goals in 2015, converting 23.4% of their opportunities. The Battlefords are behind just the Yorkton Terriers.
On the other side of the stick their penalty kill unit has also had a solid year, noted as the sixth best in the league. They have been able to kill 82.5% of penalties thus far. The Battlefords have done a great job of clogging the shooting lanes and have shown that they are not scared to sacrifice their body to block shots on numerous occasions.
The well-roundedness of the club is certainly what has gotten them to where they are today and people are starting to take note.
Young, Delainey and Sych were each invited to the Team Canada West try out after their successful seasons to date. All three players have said they gained invaluable experience from the camp but have now shifted their focus to one thing, and that is winning a championship for the Battlefords.
There has been a ton of positivity for the North Stars. It is a team that has shown the capability of rolling their lines on any given night. A new hero could emerge with each game, and that is a mark of a great hockey team.
2015 was certainly a year to remember on the ice, but it was one to remember off of it as well.
For as much of what the players from the North Stars do inside the Civic Centre, they are equally as important within the community.
They have constantly involved themselves within schools, teaching and learning with young students who look up to them. The players allow themselves to be auctioned off to members of the community in exchange for a few hours of work at any given business. The North Stars are repeatedly involved in donations to different charities and are a constant reminder, on and off the ice, that they are a team that wants to win.
Now the black and white look forward to the second half of the season. With just 20 games left in the campaign, all teams are looking up at the North Stars, and if 2015 is any indication, this group of men may have what it takes to keep it that way.
