Ice hockey team in North Battleford, Saskatchewan
The Battlefords North Stars are a Junior "A" ice hockey team based in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada, that plays in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. The team was founded in 1973 as the Battlefords Barons and has been known as the North Stars since 1983. They have won four SJHL Championships, most recently in 2023.[1]
History
The team was founded in 1973 when the team's first board of directors, led by Art Streuby, created a franchise to join the SJHL named the Battlefords Barons.[2]
In the team's first season, they posted an abysmal record of 10–40–0, improving to 31-26-1 the following year.
In 1983-84 the team's name was changed to the North Battleford North Stars, adopting a logo similar to their namesake, the Minnesota North Stars in the National Hockey League.
In the 1990s a new logo taking heavy inspiration from the first Dallas Stars logo would be brought into use, and remains the team's logo today, along with the black and silver colour scheme. The team's name was also shortened to "Battlefords North Stars".[3]
The team celebrated its 50th anniversary in June 2023.[4]
Season-by-season standings
Playoffs
- Nipawin Hawks defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-2
- Yorkton Terriers defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-1
- Humboldt Broncos defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-2
- 1992 DNQ
- 1993 DNQ
- 1994 Lost quarter-final
- Humboldt Broncos defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-3
- Battlefords North Stars defeated Kindersley Klippers 4-games-to-none
- Battlefords North Stars defeated Melfort Mustangs 4-games-to-2
- Weyburn Red Wings defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-1
- Battlefords North Stars defeated Nipawin Hawks 4-games-to-2
- Melfort Mustangs defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-1
- Battlefords North Stars defeated Melfort Mustangs 4-games-to-none
- Battlefords North Stars defeated Nipawin Hawks 4-games-to-2
- Weyburn Red Wings defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-none
- Battlefords North Stars defeated Humboldt Broncos 2-games-to-none
- Nipawin Hawks defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-none
- Battleford North Stars defeated Flin Flon Bombers 2-games-to-none
- Melfort Mustangs defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-2
- First in round robin (3-1) vs. Flin Flon Bombers and Melfort Mustangs
- Battlefords North Stars defeated Kindersley Klippers 4-games-to-1
- Battlefords North Stars defeated Humboldt Broncos 4-games-to-3
- Battlefords North Stars defeated Weyburn Red Wings 4-games-to-3 SJHL CHAMPIONS
- Battlefords North Stars defeated OCN Blizzard (MJHL) 4-games-to-1 ANAVET CUP CHAMPIONS
- Fourth in 2000 Royal Bank Cup round robin (2-2)
- Fort McMurray Oil Barons (BCHL) defeated Battlefords North Stars 5-2 in Semi-final
- Battlefords North Stars defeated Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL) 3-2 2OT in Bronze Medal Game
- 2001 DNQ
- 2002 Lost quarter-final
- Kindersley Klippers defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-3
- Battlefords North Stars defeated Kindersley Klippers 4-games-to-none
- Humboldt Broncos defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-2
- Kindersley Klippers defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-none
- Battlefords North Stars defeated Kindersley Klippers 4-games-to-none
- Battlefords North Stars defeated La Ronge Ice Wolves 4-games-to-3
- Yorkton Terriers defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-3
- First in round robin (2-1-1) vs. Nipawin Hawks and La Ronge Ice Wolves
- Battlefords North Stars defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4-games-to-1
- Battlefords North Stars defeated La Ronge Ice Wolves 4-games-to-none
- Yorkton Terriers defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-1
- Second in round robin (2-1-1) vs. Humboldt Broncos and Melfort Mustangs
- Nipawin Hawks defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-2
- 2008 DNQ
- 2009 Lost quarter-final
- Battlefords North Stars defeated Nipawin Hawks 3-games-to-none
- Humboldt Broncos defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-2
- Battlefords North Stars defeated Melfort Mustangs 4-games-to-1
- La Ronge Ice Wolves defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-2
- Flin Flon Bombers defeated Battlefords North Stars 3-games-to-1
Western Canada Cup
Western Canada Championships ** BCHL - AJHL- SJHL - MJHL - Host **
Round robin play with 1st vs 2nd - winner advance to National Championship & loser to Runner-up Game
3rd vs 4th in 2nd semi-final winner to Runner-up game loser eliminated.
Runner-up game determines 2nd representative to National Championship.
Competition began 2013 season. Ended following 2017 playoffs.
Centennial Cup - Revised format 2022
Canadian Jr. A National Championships
Maritime Junior Hockey League, Quebec Junior Hockey League, Central Canada Hockey League, Ontario Junior Hockey League, Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, Superior International Junior Hockey League, Manitoba Junior Hockey League, Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, Alberta Junior Hockey League, and Host. The BCHL declared itself an independent league and there is no BC representative.
Round-robin play in two 5-team pools with top three in pool advancing to determine a Champion.
NHL alumni
- Blair Atcheynum - Ottawa Senators, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Chicago Blackhawks
- Wade Belak - Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators
- Steve Konowalchuk - Washington Capitals, Colorado Avalanche
- Joel Kwiatkowski - Ottawa Senators, Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Atlanta Thrashers
- Jaroslav Obsut - St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche
- Corey Schwab - New Jersey Devils, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Mick Vukota - New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens
See also
References
- ^ "SJHL Round-Up: Battlefords wins Canterra Seeds Cup championship". SaskToday.ca. 2023-04-24. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
- ^ Martinson, Martin. "North Stars' founder, Strueby reflects on 50 years". battlefordsNOW. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
- ^ "North Stars & Barons History". www.northstars.ca. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
- ^ Martinson, Martin. "North Stars gearing up for 50th Anniversary Weekend". battlefordsNOW. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
External links
- Battlefords North Stars official website