Fresh off of a 3-2 victory against the defending SJHL champions in the Melfort Mustangs, the first place North Stars are set to begin a five game road trip.
The next eight days will see the Battlefords away from the Civic Centre, as they travel to Weyburn, Estevan, Notre Dame, and Flin Flon.
Their first stop will be against the (14-5) Red Wings at Crescent Point Place.
After dropping their first three games to the top team in the Viterra Division, where they were outscored 11-6, the North Stars look to finally crack goaltender Jack Burgart with their high-powered offence. Now, the Battlefords did outshoot Weyburn in each of the three tilts, getting the puck on net 110 times to the Red Wings’ 87.
“We need to take the puck to the net more and get more quality shots.” Top goal scorer Layne Young said, “We have been working on the perimeter against them.”
Young has tallied two points against the Wings this season, while Igor Leonenko has a goal and two assists.
The North Stars will need to capitalize on their powerplay if given the opportunity, they were 1/6 against Weyburn on November the 6th.
Projected starters:
North Stars: Taryn Kotchorek (4-0-0-2) 1.64 GAA 0.941
Red Wings: Jack Burgart (12-4-1-0) 2.11 GAA 0.936 SV%
Top scorers:
North Stars: Layne Young – 22 GP 10 G 18 A
Red Wings: Braden Mellon – 21 GP 8 G 18 A
From there the wheels move to Estevan where the North Stars take on the (20-11) Bruins at Affinity Place.
The season series is tied at one game a-piece. Darcy DeRoose is the man to watch out for on the Bruins, who put up three points (1 G, 2 A) the last time the Battlefords made the trip. On the other side its Leonenko, Coby Downs, and Jake McMillen who combined for seven tallies during the two games.
The Battlefords penalty kill was a perfect 4/4, while going scoreless on their lone powerplay opportunity.
Projected starters:
North Stars: Ryan Rewarts (11-5-0-0) 2.82 GAA 0.898 SV%
Bruins: Tyler Fuhr (7-7-0-1) 3.71 GAA 0.882 SV%
Top scorers:
North Stars: Igor Leonenko – 22 GP 11 G 15 A
Bruins: Darcy DeRoose – 18 GP 9 G 16 A
The Stars will then move on to the Duncan McNeill Arena to face off for an interdivision bout against the (10-7) Notre Dame Hounds. The season series is also tied at one win each, with the latest resulting in a 4-1 victory for the Battlefords. The rivalry heated up last time these teams took to the ice, as neither could stay out of the box, producing 66 minutes of penalties. Every game against a club within the division holds greater value, with each play held under the microscope. The North Stars can further their division lead to double digit points with a win, while continuing to establish themselves as one of the powerhouses in the league.
Projected starters:
North Stars: Taryn Kotchorek (4-0-0-2) 1.64 GAA 0.941 SV%
Notre Dame Hounds: Alexi Thibaudeau (8-7-1-0) 3.02 GAA 0.898 SV%
Top scorers:
North Stars: Dustin Gorgi – 22 GP 9 G 16 A
Hounds: Peyton Hogan – 18 GP 6 G 10 A
Last on the road trip is a back-to-back stop at the Whitney Forum for a date with the (6-9) Flin Flon Bombers. They may be the basement dwellers in the Sherwood Division, while managing just 16 points thus far, but the Bombers did put up eight goals against the North Stars last time these teams saw each other, en route to a 8-4 victory.
“We came out thinking it would be an easy win and we were very undisciplined against them too.” Forward Layne Young told me. “As long as we stay out of the box and play our game, we will be fine.”
The young sniper may have something here, as the Battlefords registered 22 minutes of penalties to Flin Flon’s ten.
Projected starters:
North Stars: Ryan Rewarts (11-5-0-0) 2.82 GAA 0.898 SV%
Bombers: Zac Robidoux (4-5-0-3) 2.93 GAA 0.912 SV%
Top scorers:
North Stars: Layne Young – 22 GP 10 G 18 A
Bombers: Alex Smith – 19 GP 9 G 9 A
The Civic Centre will play host to the Melfort Mustangs and the newly traded Rylan Freed November 25th.
THINGS TO NOTE:
The Battlefords have the third best power play on the road, with a success rate of 24.2%. They also have the fourth best penalty kill, while killing off 82.7% of penalties away from the Civic Centre.
