The Battlefords North Stars have officially announced their captain and three alternates for the upcoming season.
All four players are from the area, with three being North Battleford products.
Defenceman Kendall Fransoo has been named the team鈥檚 captain, taking over for another former defenceman in Michael Statchuk.
鈥淜endall has played over 100 games in our league,鈥� North Stars head coach and general manager Kevin Hasselberg said. 鈥淗e plays with his heart on his sleeve, he鈥檚 going to stick up for teammates and he鈥檚 fearless. When it comes to his on-ice performance whether it鈥檚 during games or practice, he gives it everything he has.鈥� Fransoo scored two goals and recorded 208 penalty minutes over 62 regular season and playoff games last year.
Another North Battleford native, Connor Sych, was named one of the alternate captains for the club.
鈥淐onnor had a great rookie season with us and I think he surprised a lot of people with his development curve,鈥� Hasselberg said. 鈥淗e simply got better every time he hit the ice. You know what you鈥檙e going to get out of him every game. He might not be a vocal leader but he going to lead by example on the ice and he鈥檚 not afraid to hold other players accountable.鈥� Sych scored four times and added seven assists in 46 regular season games last year before adding one assist in nine playoff games. He also represented the SJHL at the CJHL top prospects game in Oakville, Ont.
Logan Nachtegaele is the third North Battleford native who will represent the North Stars leadership this year, and Hasselberg says his positive attitude is what makes him invaluable.
鈥淟ogan is an inspirational leader,鈥� Hasselberg stated. 鈥淗e鈥檚 been through a lot in his life already, both on the ice and off it. He鈥檚 overcome some major challenges and a big reflection of him is his positive outlook on life. He surrounds himself with good people and he鈥檚 going to do everything he can to help those around him. He鈥檚 an easy player to look up to and role model yourself with.鈥� Nachtegaele scored three goals and two assists in 37 games last year.
The last member of the North Stars leadership core for this season is Glaslyn native Reed Delainey. Hasselberg had a strong comparison when talking about Delainey.
鈥淲hen you look at the skill level I think Reed is a player that brings a skill to the hockey team that is unmatched,鈥� Hasselberg said. 鈥淚 would argue that he鈥檚 one of the fastest players in our league, if not the fastest player. You look at a past player, Blake Tatchell, who was a player who separated himself from other players in the league and we expect Reed to make that same jump. He鈥檚 very confident in what he does, when you challenge him he doesn鈥檛 back down. When you鈥檙e watching him on the ice it brings people to their feet because you just don鈥檛 know what鈥檚 going to happen.鈥�
Tatchell, another North Battleford native, spent three seasons with the North Stars from 2009-2012, winning SJHL MVP in his final year when he scored 42 goals and added 44 assists. He has spent the last three seasons playing NCAA Div. 1 hockey with the University of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves, finishing either first or second in team scoring.
Delainey finished second in scoring on the North Stars last season with 15 goals and 17 assists in just 37 games. Like Tatchell, Delainey will play NCAA Div. 1 hockey at the Rochester Institute of Technology beginning in the fall of 2016.
Though the four players are local products, Hasselberg says that wasn鈥檛 the determining factor in why they were named as leaders.
鈥淭hat certainly wasn鈥檛 the weighing factor. These are four individuals who have strong character. They鈥檙e goal driven, as all of our players are. These guys are invested. I think it鈥檚 going to be a positive reflection on the rest of the room and these are players that guys can look up to and will perform for the right reasons. From a fan appreciation they鈥檙e going to give everything they鈥檝e got whenever they hit the ice.鈥�
Fans will have their first opportunity to see the 2015-16 installment of the Battlefords North Stars when the team hits the ice for the first time Aug. 31.
