It was as if they had never left town.
The Battlefords North Stars annual golf classic at the Jackfish Lake Golf and Conference Centre Friday resembled more of a family reunion between the returning players of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League team as they caught back up following the off-season.
“We have such a close group of guys that we can pretty much pick up right where we left off when the playoffs ended in the spring,” goaltender Taryn Kotchorek said.
“I don’t think we’ve missed a beat,” defenceman Connor Sych added. “We’re already chirping one another and having fun together. I think everyone is excited for the new season to begin.”
The excitement to get the 2016-17 SJHL campaign underway has a lot to do with how last year went for the North Stars.
The regular season is one that the players and fans won’t soon forget as they finished in first place in the league with a 43-11-2-2 record.
Although they were upset in the semifinals by the Flin Flon Bombers, the experience is something the North Stars hope to build off, especially with much of the core from last year’s team returning for another season.
“Our confidence level is definitely up right now,” forward Troy Gerein said. “The guys that are back know that this team is capable of going for the championship this year and we’re all anxious to be back on the ice to work towards that goal.”
“Last year was a good step for us and we’re going to be taking a lot from that,” Sych added. “If we apply all of the things that we learned from last season we can be that much better.”
There will be one major change that the returning players will be getting used to as Kevin Hasselberg left his post as general manager and head coach after five seasons to take over the same roles for the Pensacola Ice Flyers of the Southern Professional Hockey League.
“It’s been awesome to have Kevin as a coach and it’s great to see him living out his dream,” Gerein said.
“There’s quite a lot that we can all take from him as we go forward,” Sych said. “Whether it’s paying attention to the little details or being a good person in the community, there’s a lot of important things that we can take from having Kevin coach us.”
As Hasselberg departs, the returning players are already getting to know their new boss as they met general manager and head coach Nate Bedford on Friday.
“There will be some differences of course but Nate’s a high quality guy and he will do a great job here,” Sych said. “I don’t expect there to be any major changes to how we play and I think the change will be a good one.”
“Obviously we will get to know him a little bit more with the kids camp this week before we start into training camp next week but everything so far has gone well,” Kotchorek added.
With the North Stars training camp getting underway next Monday, the main goal for the returning players is to gel with the new faces that are coming to town as they gear up for their regular season opener at home on Sept. 16 against the Kindersley Klippers.
“There will be some younger guys that are coming in so it’s important to get them comfortable around us,” Gerein said. “We have a very close knit group here and I’m sure we will have a good season as soon as we come together.”
“It’s nice to have a lot of guys coming back to help with that process so it won’t be that hard for us to get up to speed,” Sych added.
Many of the players have already been out on the ice this summer, as Gerein and Kotchorek have both been practicing in Saskatoon.
“Everyone’s expecting a lot this season, especially with how last year ended,” Kotchorek said. “We’re all willing to work hard to try and get it done this year.”
The North Stars pre-season schedule was also released this past week.
They will open things up on Sept. 3 with a visit to Alberta to take on the Bonnyville Pontiacs. The two clubs will play again a night later at the Civic Centre.
The North Stars will then visit the Nipawin Hawks on Sept. 7 before hosting the squad a night later.
They will then visit the Klippers on Sept. 9 before wrapping up their exhibition slate in a rematch the following evening.
