Western Canada Cup Profile: Battlefords North Stars (SJHL)
We continue our profile series of some of the top teams in Western Canada by looking in on the Battlefords North Stars of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). Western Canada Cup broadcaster Fraser Rodgers spoke woth North Stars GM / Head Coach Nate Bedford last week about the North Stars' season-to-date.
Battlefords are first in the SJHL with a 44-8-1-0 (wins-losses-OT-Shootout) record, and what makes that record more impressive, is the fact they started the season just 8-5 in their first 13 games. The Stars are the best defensive team in Saskatchewan, allowing just 98 goals through 53 games, which is 12 goals fewer than the next closest team. They also have an embarassment of riches in goal, as Joel Gryzbowski and Taryn Kotchorek are first and second in goals-against average, and second and third in save percentage. It's not all defensive, as the North Stars are the third-highest scoring team in the SJ.
You could say they're a model of consistency, as the North Stars have lost back-to-back games just once this season and are currently riding a seven-game win streak and ranked fifth nationally.
