Well, here we go, the stage is set for the SJHL playoffs. The Battlefords North Stars have found their first round opponent, another date with the Kindersley Klippers.
After falling in game one to the Notre Dame Hounds, the Klippers came back with three straight wins to move on, their latest by way of a 5-0 victory.
Over the course of the season, the black and white displayed pure dominance over the rest of the league, and it was no different against Kindersley. A year after failing to overcome them in the quarter-finals, the shoe is on the other foot, and the North Stars have a chance to exact some revenge.
The Battlefords swept the Klippers this year, taking all eight games while outscoring them 33-15. A two-game series to begin and end the season is how these two rounded out their years, with one of the closest games being played out in Kindersley in the regular season finale. The North Stars held on to a 3-2 lead for their 11th straight win.
The black and white come into the opening series with the most prolific offence in the league, having five forwards in the top 20 for scoring. The Klippers will be tasked with the challenge of shutting down the top line in Igor Leonenko, Coby Downs and Layne Young. Leonenko produced astronomical numbers this season, scoring 47 goals (most in the league) with 41 assists in 58 games played, good for second in the SJHL. He is also an important cog on the power play, his one-timer from the right wing will more than likely be on full display during the playoffs. Downs had an outstanding year, being named to the All-Rookie Team, finishing with 27 goals and 46 helpers. He says he has the ability to slow the game down and make the right play, and his season was a close indication of that. Rookie of the year, Young, rounds out the top line, finding the back of the net 24 times while adding 54 assists. The offence also efficiently produced throughout the year against Kindersley. Leonenko tallied 14 points in eight games (eight goals, six assists), Young had two goals and six assists, while Downs ended the campaign with six goals and four assists against the Klippers. The supporting cast, if you can call them that, also generated a ton of offence. Dustin Gorgi (28 goals and 31 assists) had two goals and six helpers against Kindersley while Jake McMillen had a goal and five assists. Reed Delainey kicked the season off with a hat trick. Expect these forwards to continue to produce well into the playoffs.
On the other side of the ice, the North Stars will be looking to shut down Austin Calladine, Dexter Bricker and Daniell Lange. All three were in the top 20 for production, and did a number on the Battlefords throughout their eight-game season series. Calladine, seventh in the SJHL in scoring, tallied six points, notching two goals in the finale against the black and white. Bricker also finished with six points against the North Stars, while Lange tickled twine four times. The forward also had a great survivor series against Notre Dame, notching six points in four games.
Logan Nachtegaele, Baxter Kanter and Rory Davidson will most likely match up against these three. One of the best shut down lines in the SJHL, it will be up to them to contain and make it difficult for the Klippers throughout the quarter-finals.
The defence for the North Stars is anchored by the duo of Connor Sych and captain Kendall Fransoo, but they are incredibly deep on the back end. Jordan Wiest and Levi Kleiboer, on the opposite spectrums for size, will also be playing a big part throughout the playoffs on the blue line. Wiest is a vital part of the penalty kill and can generate offence with his slap shot, while Kleiboer is one of the more intelligent defenceman in the SJHL, possessing the ability to get his team out of tight spots in the defensive end.
Branden Scheidl is the main blue-liner to look out for with the Klippers. He can break his team out into the offensive zone like no other, and is the quarterback for their power play. Throughout the season, Scheidl amassed nine goals and 27 assists in 55 games.
The slight edge in special teams has to be given to the North Stars. The Battlefords head into the playoffs with the second ranked power play unit in the province, converting 25 per cent, scoring 80 goals in 354 opportunities. There’s no sleeping on the Klippers, though, who come in with the third ranked unit, scoring 64 goals in 287 chances. They tallied four goals on the man advantage in their first round against the Hounds. The North Stars also have the better of the two penalty kill units, killing off 83.1 per cent of penalties compared to the 81.3 per cent of the Klippers.
It is tough to say who will be getting the majority of starts in the crease for the Battlefords, as Head Coach Kevin Hasselberg has said he believes all three goalies will be seeing time in between the pipes during their playoff run. Ryan Rewerts started the majority of the games against the Klippers this season, walking away with a 6-0 record while adding a 24-save shutout. He finished the year with 20 wins, a .900 save percentage and a 2.69 GAA. Tyler Fuhr got the nod in the final game of the season, posting 21 saves in a 3-2 victory. He ended the year with a 21-12-1-2 record. Taryn Kotchorek had a fantastic first season in the black and white jersey, coming over from the AA Barons, posting a 15-4-1 record with four shutouts.
On the other side of the rink, it is Nathan Hargrave who will be getting the starts for Kindersley. The workhorse finished with 47 games played, the second most in the SJHL. He ended the year with a 19-18-1-1 showing, an .898 save percentage coupled with a 3.52 GAA. He had an incredible first round, posting a shutout and .951 save percentage.
Regardless of how you shake things, playoff hockey is here in the Battlefords, and the SJHL regular season champions are gearing up for the long haul. Playoff tickets are now on sale.
