By Martin Martinson

Stars return home for huge matchup with Klippers

Dec 29, 2018 | 1:00 PM

The Battlefords North Stars are in action again tonight for part two of their back-to-back home-and-home showdown with the rival Kindersley Klippers, in a matchup taking place tonight at the Civic Centre.

The North Stars are coming off a 4-2 win last night over the Klippers that moved the team into second place in the Global Ag. Risk Solutions Division and just two points back of Kindersley for first within the grouping.

Stars’ goaltender Joel Grzybowski is expected to get the start once again tonight, following a terrific performance that saw the 19-year-old Hafford, Sask., product turn aside 31 of the 33 shots he faced Friday, including 15 in the first period alone, and another 11 in period three.

The Stars will be looking for more of the same from their goaltender tonight against a Klippers’ club that will no doubt be motivated to return the favour in their role of hopeful spoiler for the Stars’ first game out of Christmas at home in the Battlefords.

In addition to an encore performance between the pipes, the Stars will also be hoping that Saturday plays out as a bout of déjà vu with a continued gutsy effort from their forward contingent.

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With Braydon Buziak, Elijah Loon-Stewardson and Quintin Loon-Stewardson still out due to illness, the lineup will be a carbon copy of the one seen in Kindersley, with just 11 forwards dressed and seven defensemen on the back end.

The Stars’ top line of MacGregor Sinclair flanked by Austin Becker and Brett Gammer was far and away the most electric line for either side Friday.

Ending the night with a combined five points, it didn’t take long for the unit to gel as the previously established chemistry between Gammer and Becker only continued to flourish with the team’s leading point scorer, Sinclair adding another dynamic scoring threat to the mix.

With his two-goal performance, MacGregor Sinclair moves up to just outside the top 10 in league scoring, with 38 points on the year. Brett Gammer’s goal gave him seven on the season, tied for the team-lead amongst rookies, while Austin Becker continues to make good on his ascent up the lineup, picking up two-primary assists last night on his team’s first two goals.

Line two, featuring Matthias Urbanski between Ryan Gil and Dayton Heino also showed some nice chemistry last night, dominating the boards down low for stretches on the offensive cycle game, while also chipping in on the scoresheet, thanks to a 2-on-1 rush opportunity that saw Urbanski feed Gil for the Stars’ third goal and what would prove to be the game-winner on the night.

Dylan Esau moving up to centre the third line appears to be making the most of his opportunity with an increased role alongside Owen Lamb and Regan Doig. Appearing to only foster more confidence as responsibility is given, Esau was seen carrying the puck for long stretches on the Stars’ second power-play unit late in the second period Friday.

Kaden Boser and Luke Fennig as two-thirds of the fourth unit saw a number of different looks alongside them throughout the night, and likely will again with the additional ice time resulting from 11 forwards dressed that will be divvied up between those with a hot-hand at any given time.

Fennig in his first SJHL game showed solid fundamentals, making the right play, the simple play, often in his first taste of the North Stars’ system. Boser meanwhile, ensured no liberties were taken with the newly-turned 17-year-old, policing the ice and reacquainting himself with several members of the Kindersley team after a long holiday layoff.

On the blue line, the Stars’ top four of Cody Spagrud Tanner Scott, Matthew Fletcher and Seth Summers remain the matchup go-to’s on the backend for the black and silver, logging big minutes against the Klippers’ tenacious forecheck spearheaded by gritty forwards such as Cameron Shorrock (6’0, 185), Josh Fletcher (6’0, 180) and Ty Enns (6’1, 187), while also showcasing their ability to remain fleet of foot to control their gaps with shifty, creative attackers such as Will Van der Sloot, Nate Keeley and Austin Nault.

Austin Shumanski and Ryan Granville, along with Noah Form who spent time with several different partners, have given Brayden Klimosko and Rob Holoien on the Stars’ coaching staff options to mix and match their defensive front, keeping Clayton Jardine and the Klippers’ brass guessing as to the defending personnel their forward contingent will be faced with on any given shift.

All things considered, with Saturday night marking the sixth matchup of ten this season in the season series between the two rivals, there’s going to be a palpable intensity felt in the Civic Centre on hockey night.

Fans can catch all the action tonight at the Civic Centre and on 1050 CJNB beginning with the pregame show at 7:15 p.m. with puck drop to follow at 7:30 p.m.

North Stars lineup at a glance

Forwards:

A. Becker, M. Sinclair, B. Gammer

R. Gil, M. Urbanski, D. Heino

O. Lamb, D. Esau, R. Doig

K. Boser, L. Fennig

Defensemen:

T. Scott, C. Spagrud

S. Summers, M. Fletcher

A. Shumanski, R. Granville

N. Form

Goaltenders:

J. Grzybowski

C. Duran

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1