With hockey season nearly in full swing across the Battlefords, the Battlefords AAA Stars will open their season on the road Sept. 23 against the Prince Albert Mintos.
The Stars went undefeated in the preseason, earning a win over the Lloydminster Lancers and a pair of victories against the Swift Current Legionnaires.
Although Stars head coach Martin Smith is pleased with the preseason results, he knows the real test is still to come.
“We’ve got lots to work on. We’ve started going over our systems and preparing for our first league game,” he said.
“We know that the exhibition season doesn’t mean anything. The real season starts this week, but it gave us an indication of where we’re at and what we need to work on heading into the regular season.”
Smith said the team’s discipline is the area that needs the most work.
“Not necessarily staying out of the penalty box, but just being disciplined within the system,” Smith said.
“I know we have a lot of guys that can put the puck in the net, but it’s all about playing on the defensive side of the puck and taking care of your own end first. Offensive opportunities will happen off good defence, so I think that’s the main area we need to concentrate on.”
The Stars are led by three returning forwards — Nash Coquet, Jaxon Brabant and Noah Larre — who Smith hopes will lead on and off the ice this season.
“I think the sky’s the limit for this line. With another year of experience, they’re going to be looked upon to carry the hockey club offensively. The other thing is that other players see the success they have and what it takes to have success, and it rubs off on other guys,” he said.
“We’ve got some other guys who can score and put the puck in the net. We’ll hopefully have that secondary scoring. But when you look to those three guys, you look for leadership on and off the ice and for them to continue to use their speed.”
Three Stars players born in 2011 were selected in this year’s WHL draft: Kacy Turberfield by the Portland Winterhawks, and Klay Weber and Alex Kowalyk by the Regina Pats. They will look to continue developing their games with the Stars.
“Three players who played together last year are making the jump. All three of them had action with us last year. They practised with us quite a bit. We’re very lucky to have some 2011s …a bit of a youth movement in there …and guys who can step in and contribute.”
The Stars have a goaltending tandem of Cody Marciniuk and Ty Keyowski, who Smith is excited to see in action.
“Cody doesn’t give up on pucks, and when you think you’ve got that wide-open net, all of a sudden he’s diving back in and making an attempt …and nine times out of 10 he makes the save,” Smith said.
“He’s just such a competitor and I think he’s such a good role model for a first-year goaltender like Ty Keyowski. Ty just continues to get better every day. I think we have a really good tandem right now with some veteran experience as well as some rookie youth.”
When asked which players could turn some heads this year, Smith had a few in mind.
“Gage Cornish had a really good North Stars camp. I think he’s going to have a good year. I’m excited to see what he’s going to do. A returning player like Graydon Neumeier as well — I think he’s ready to burst out offensively. I’m really excited to see what they’re going to do,” he said.
“We’ve added Aiden Harmon on the back end. Between him and Aaron Kowalyk, they’re very offensive defencemen who had very good preseasons. I’m really excited to see how they play on the power play.”
Heading into the season opener against Prince Albert, Smith wants the Stars to use their speed to their advantage.
“You don’t want to shrink the neutral zone between the dots. You want to spread things out and use our speed and our puck movement and create things off the rush. We want to involve our defence in the offensive zone. It all starts with making that good first pass coming out of our own zone and playing defence first.”
The puck drops at 7 p.m. in the Art Hauser Centre on Sept. 23 when the Stars open their season against the Mintos.
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