The Battlefords AAA Stars are firing on all cylinders to start the season.
The Stars are off with a 4-0-0-0 (W-L-OTL-SOL) record, putting them in a tie for second with Moose Jaw in the SMAAAHL standings behind only Prince Albert (5-1-0-0).
Head coach Martin Smith is happy with the record, but wants to see more consistency from his team through three periods.
“We have to be honest and realistic. The fact is that Cody Marciniuk was solid between the pipes in all four games and we got some timely goals. But at times, we were also hanging on a bit because we weren’t playing for 60 minutes.”
Their hot start hasn’t been dominant though, as three of them have come in one goal games. In the league’s regular season opener, on Sept. 23, the Stars outlasted the Prince Albert Mintos 3-2, before toppling the Warman Wildcats 4-3 in overtime on Sept. 29. Then, in their doubleheader against the Yorkton Maulers this past weekend, Battlefords managed a 3-2 win on Saturday and a 5-2 triumph on Sunday.
Despite the successful weekend, Smith said Sunday’s game was a step in the right direction toward playing a complete 60 minutes, but he knows it is early in the season.
“We’ve got lots of work to do going forward.”
A big part of the Stars’ early success is goaltender Marciniuk, who has a .937 save percentage and a 2.24 goals-against average. His four wins also lead the league early on. As the season progresses, Smith expects to lean on both Marciniuk and Ty Keyowski in the crease.
“We knew Cody was going to be the backbone of our hockey team and I think he’s showing that early on here. He’s going to carry the brunt of the workload. But I’m looking right now to get Ty Keyowski into a game either this weekend or next weekend,” Smith said.
“I don’t want him to sit too long, and he is going to get some action for us as well. They’re just a really good goaltending tandem that we have right now and we’re lucky to have both of them.”
The Stars are dealing with injuries to Rylee Belyk and Aaron Kowalyk, though the team’s next-man-up mentality has helped.
“The affiliate players that have come in have played well for us. Calder Reiter and Cash Van Nortwick have stepped in and done a good job. The veteran presence is missed, and I think we just have to concentrate more on playing better team defence.”
Smith also said his team may have to play a more straightforward offensive game without those two blueliners.
“It makes you adjust your game a lot more. At the end of the day, it’s keeping it simple, just making the simple plays and forwards being in good support areas to be able to help the defence out, and we’ll work on that going forward.”
The Stars will be in Swift Current this weekend to face the Legionnaires as they try to remain undefeated.
“We’re going in with a different lineup, but the game plan is the same. We have to outwork them. They’re a big, physical team that skates really well and they’re going to come at us hard,” Smith said.
While the teams have not met during the regular season, the Stars earned a pair of wins over the Legionnaires in the preseason.
“Though it was only exhibition, we beat them twice and they’re a good hockey club. They’re in the top six in the league right now, and it’s going to be a tough weekend for us.”
The Access Communications Centre will not host another Stars game this month as the team begins a stretch of eight straight road games. Smith believes the lengthy road swing could benefit the team.
“We can continue to gel as a team. We’ll be together a lot here in the next month. Not unlike any other league, you’ve got to be able to win on the road too. I think it’ll be a good test for us. Being on the road for a month, we’re also going to come with a big homestand later on in the year.”
The Stars open the weekend at the InnovationPlex in Swift Current on Friday. Puck drop is at 7:15 p.m.
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