Forward Jared Blaquiere and defenceman Zach Nedelec have a chance to write a spectacular ending to their junior hockey careers.
Not only could the Edam natives find themselves battling for a Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League title, but the 20-year-olds can do so playing for the team that is closest to their hometown.
鈥淭he support that we鈥檝e felt ever since we got to town has been huge,鈥� Blaquiere said. 鈥淭his is pretty much our hometown team, so to play for a high-class organization like the North Stars is pretty exciting.
鈥淚 never thought I would have a chance to play on a first place team, especially one that鈥檚 going to have a bye in the first round of the playoffs. There鈥檚 so many people here that believe we can go all the way, and I want to help accomplish that.鈥�
Blaquiere and Nedlece were acquired by the North Stars in a trade with the La Ronge Ice Wolves last Tuesday, in a deal that saw prospects Austin Shumanski, Mackenzie Donovan and Shane Hounsell heading the other way, along with a first round pick in the 2017 SJHL bantam draft and a player development fee.
The move to North Battleford saw Blaquiere and Nedelec get reacquainted with a number of familiar faces that they鈥檝e played with or against over the years.
鈥淭o be back playing with some of your buddies has been really cool,鈥� Nedelec said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had some tough battles over the last few years, especially with the North Stars being at the top of the league, so it鈥檚 good to be on the same side.鈥�
鈥淭here鈥檚 been some pretty good tussles in the last couple of seasons, especially with our captain Kendall Fransoo,鈥� Blaquiere said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been fun getting to know everyone again in the dressing room over the last week, after taking them on while with the Ice Wolves.鈥�
Blaquiere led the Ice Wolves in scoring at the time of the deal with 23 points and is coming off of a 50-point campaign in 2015-16.
鈥淚t was tough at times in La Ronge, especially in that first year when we were at the bottom of the standings and getting lots of ice time against many of the best players in the league,鈥� Blaquiere said.
鈥淗aving that taste of playoff experience last season with the Ice Wolves helped me out a lot, and now I feel like I鈥檝e adapted well to the physical and fast-paced play in the SJHL.鈥�
Nedelec, who put up a career high eight points last season, had four points in 26 games for the Ice Wolves prior to the trade.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e a younger defenceman going up against the top end forwards, you have to get used to the speed and how the biggest players are to play against,鈥� Nedelec said. 鈥淥ver time though, I鈥檝e been able to do that and I鈥檝e been able to play my style of game.鈥�
Although both players didn鈥檛 record a point last weekend in a pair of home games against the Weyburn Red Wings, Nedelec saw first hand what has made the North Stars the team to beat in the SJHL this year.
鈥淭here鈥檚 lots of depth throughout the entire lineup,鈥� Nedelec said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of skill, of course, but everyone comes to work every single night.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 a good sign heading to the playoffs.鈥�
The North Stars will be back in action Saturday in Shellbrook, as they鈥檒l square off against the Notre Dame Hounds as part of Hockey Day in Saskatchewan.聽
