Battlefords North Stars win 11th straight before SJHL’s holiday break

You couldn’t have drawn up a better start to the 2022-23 SJHL season for the Battlefords North Stars.

The team concluded the first half of its schedule with a 5-3 win Saturday night over the Yorkton Terriers to sweep a three-game road swing and to remain undefeated in regulation time heading into the Christmas holidays.

Stars head coach and GM Brayden Klimosko said he’s been impressed with the way the players came into the season.

“We were hoping to have a strong start and we stressed that coming into camp and guys getting into shape and being ready. I think we did a really good job of that,” Klimosko said.

They’ve done exactly that by extending their league-leading record to 28-0-2-1 through their first 31 games; the victory over the Terriers was the team’s 11th straight win.

With 59 points on the year, the Stars hold a 15-point lead atop the league standings heading into the New Year.

“Obviously we’re still kind of riding that wave. We did have high expectations and probably didn’t expect not to lose one in regulation, but we did expect to have a good start coming out of the gate,” Klimosko added.

Four different North Stars found the back of the net in the win over the Terriers. Captain Jake Southgate led the way with a pair of goals, while Holden Doell (one goal, two assists), Owen Underhill and Colby Bear also tallied for the Stars.

While Klimosko is pleased with where the team is standing going into the holiday break, his staff as well as the players know the job isn’t done.

“The guys should feel very proud of where they’re at. I think overall they know we’re a far way from the end though too, and they need to get better and know they have to improve every day,” he said.

Klimosko added the team has built great chemistry over the season and the players have all pushed each other to get better.

As the team is enjoying its early success going into the break, the staff is making sure they don’t get too far ahead of themselves.

“The (winning) streak is the streak, but I think overall it’s more important to get better every day. Basically, we’re the measuring stick at the moment. Guys are like, ‘We don’t have to beat them now, but we have to beat them in March and April.’ We know that (other teams) are going to get better as the season goes on … and we’ve got to do the same,” Klimosko added.

The North Stars will now get a couple of weeks off for the Christmas holidays, before returning to play in the new year. Their first game is set for Jan. 4 at home against the La Ronge Ice Wolves.

— With files from battlefordsNOW