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.
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.
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 1991-1992 North 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".
The team celebrated its 50th anniversary in June 2023.
Season-by-season standings Season GP W L T OTL GF GA P Results Playoffs1973-74 50 10 40 0 - 178 296 20 6th SJHL North Did not Qualify for Playoffs1974-75 58 31 26 1 - 330 279 63 3rd SJHL North Won quarter-final 4-2 (Millionaires) Lost semi-finals, 0-4 (Raiders) 1975-76 58 31 27 0 - 343 258 62 4th SJHL North Lost quarter-finals, 0-4 (Raiders) 1976-77 60 24 34 2 - 292 319 50 3rd SJHL North Lost quarter-finals, 1-4 (Broncos)1977-78 60 24 36 0 - 254 318 48 4th SJHL North Lost quarter-finals, 0-4 (Raiders) 1978-79 60 25 33 2 - 310 334 52 4th SJHL North Lost quarter-finals, 1-4 (Raiders) 1979-80 60 29 31 0 - 288 295 58 3rd SJHL North Lost quarter-finals, 1-4 (Broncos)1980-81 60 25 34 1 - 283 326 51 4th SJHL North Lost quarter-finals, 0-4 (Raiders) 1981-82 60 21 37 2 - 250 334 44 5th SJHL North Did not Qualify for Playoffs1983-84 64 14 50 0 - 266 388 28 9th SJHL Did not Qualify for Playoffs1983-84 64 24 38 2 - 278 358 50 7th SJHL Lost quarter-finals, 0-4 (Red Wings)1984-85 64 39 23 2 - 376 274 80 3rd SJHL Won quarter-final 4-1 (Millionaires) Lost semi-finals, 1-4 (Bruins) 1985-86 60 33 27 0 - 314 307 66 4th SJHL Lost quarter-finals, 0-4 Indians1986-87 64 38 23 3 - 310 257 79 3rd SJHL Won quarter-final 4-2 (Red Wings) Lost semi-finals, 0-4 Lancers1987-88 60 19 38 3 - 246 328 41 10th SJHL Did not Qualify for Playoffs1988-89 64 25 36 3 - 308 348 53 4th SJHL North1989-90 68 36 27 5 - 296 284 77 3rd SJHL North Lost 1st round1990-91 68 35 30 3 - 315 316 73 3rd SJHL North Lost Division S-Final1991-92 64 20 41 3 - 260 325 43 6th SJHL North DNQ1992-93 64 16 39 9 - 213 280 41 6th SJHL North DNQ1993-94 68 35 22 11 - 294 236 81 2nd SJHL North Lost Division S-Final1994-95 64 39 17 8 - 291 188 86 1st SJHL Lost final1995-96 64 44 17 3 - 298 201 91 2nd SJHL North Lost Division Final1996-97 64 30 22 12 - 280 232 72 3rd SJHL North Lost final1997-98 64 26 30 8 - 230 235 60 5th SJHL North Lost Division S-Final1998-99 66 35 29 2 - 249 227 72 4th SJHL North Lost Division S-Final1999-00 60 39 18 3 - 257 190 81 2nd SJHL North Won League, won Anavet Cup2000-01 62 24 33 3 2 226 259 53 7th SJHL Dodge DNQ2001-02 64 37 21 5 1 259 206 80 4th SJHL Dodge Lost Conf S-Final2002-03 60 34 20 4 2 222 183 74 3rd SJHL Dodge Lost Conf Final2003-04 60 36 16 5 3 219 162 80 2nd SJHL Dodge Lost Conf S-Final2004-05 55 28 15 8 4 202 169 68 1st SJHL Itech Lost final2005-06 55 38 12 2 3 215 136 81 1st SJHL Itech Lost final2006-07 58 35 15 0 8 216 182 78 2nd SJHL Itech Lost in Conference Semifinals2007-08 58 5 47 - 6 110 271 16 12th SJHL 2008-09 56 15 38 - 3 154 229 33 11th SJHL2009-10 58 35 19 - 4 228 196 74 3rd SJHL Lost semi-final2010-11 58 26 29 - 3 234 256 55 8th SJHL Lost Preliminary2011-12 58 41 15 - 2 205 154 84 2nd SJHL Won quarter-finals, 4-3 Hawks lost semifinals, 2-4 (Broncos)2012-13 54 26 21 2 5 156 164 59 4 of 6 North Div7th of 12 SJHL Lost Qualifying Round, 0-3 (Mustangs)2013-14 56 36 17 - 3 176 139 75 1st of 4 Kramer Div2nd of 12 SJHL Won quarter-final 4-1 (Bruins)Lost semi-finals,1-4 (Millionaires) 2014-15 56 28 20 6 2 140 164 64 3rd of 4 Kramer Div6th of 12 SJHL Won Wild Card, 3-2 (Bruins)Lost quarter-finals, 0-4 (Klippers)2015-16 58 43 11 2 2 239 146 90 1st of 4 Finning Div1st of 12 SJHL Won quarter-finals, 4-1 (Klippers)lost semifinals, 1-4 (Bombers)2016-17 58 48 9 1 0 223 103 97 1st of 4 Finning Div1st of 12 SJHL Won quarter-finals, 4-0 (Red Wings)Won semi-finals, 4-0 (Bruins)Won League Finals 4-0 (Bombers)SJHL Champions Advance to Western Canada Cup2017-18 58 42 14 2 0 229 142 86 1st of 4 Global Ag Div2nd of 12 SJHL Won quarter-finals 4-0 (Red Wings)Lost semifinals 1-4 (Bruins)2018-1958351355213169801st of 4 Nutrien Div2nd of 12 SJHLWon quarter-finals 4-3 (Bombers)Won semi finals 4-0 (Terriers)Won League Finals 4-1 (Mustangs)SJHL ChampionsLost ANAVET Cup 4-1 (Portage Terriers)2019-2058451120226150921st of 4 Nutrien Div1st of 12 SJHLWon quarter finals 3-1 (Hawks)Remainder of playoffs cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic2020-21*3030091704th of 4 Nutrien Div12th of 12 SJHL*Shortened season due to COVID-19 pandemic2021-2258351751207174762nd of 4, Nutrien Div4th of 12 SJHLLost quarter finals 3-2 (Bombers)2022-23485221284138991st of 4, Nutrien Div1st of 12, SJHLWon quarter finals 4-1 (Red Wings)Won semi-finals 4-0 (Mustangs)Won League Finals 4-0 (Bombers)SJHL Champions Advance to Centennial Cup2023-24 56 36 15 4 1 254 197 77 2nd of 4, Nutrien Div4th of 12, SJHL Won quarter finals 4-0 (Mustangs)Lost Semifinals 0-4 (Bombers)2024-25 56 29 22 3 2 205 211 63 1st of 4, Nutrien Div6th of 12, SJHL Lost Quarterfinals 2-4 (Red Wings)
Playoffs 1989 Lost quarter-final Nipawin Hawks defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-2 1990 Lost quarter-final Yorkton Terriers defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-1 1991 Lost quarter-final 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 1995 Lost final 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 1996 Lost semi-final Battlefords North Stars defeated Nipawin Hawks 4-games-to-2 Melfort Mustangs defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-1 1997 Lost final 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 1998 Lost quarter-final Battlefords North Stars defeated Humboldt Broncos 2-games-to-none Nipawin Hawks defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-none 1999 Lost quarter-final Battleford North Stars defeated Flin Flon Bombers 2-games-to-none Melfort Mustangs defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-2 2000 Won League, won Anavet Cup, lost Royal Bank Cup Semi-final - Won Bronze 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 2003 Lost semi-final Battlefords North Stars defeated Kindersley Klippers 4-games-to-none Humboldt Broncos defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-2 2004 Lost quarter-final Kindersley Klippers defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-none 2005 Lost final 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 2006 Lost final 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 2007 Lost quarter-final 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 2010 Lost semi-final Battlefords North Stars defeated Melfort Mustangs 4-games-to-1 La Ronge Ice Wolves defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-2 2011 Lost Preliminary 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 Game3rd 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. Year Round Robin Record Standing Semifinal Gold Medal Game Runner-up Game 2017 OTL, Penticton Vees 1–2L, Portage Terriers 3–5L, Brooks Bandits 1–4W, Chilliwack Chiefs 3-0 1-0-2-1 4th of 5 L, Penticton Vees 0-4 n/an/a
Centennial Cup - Revised format 2022 Canadian Jr. A National ChampionshipsMaritime 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. Year Round-robin Record Standing Quarterfinal Semifinal Championship 2023 W, Kam River Fighting Walleyes (SIJHL), 4–1L, Collingwood Blues (OJHL), 1–3W, Portage Terriers (Host), 3–2W, Steinback Pistons (ManJHL), 3-1 3-1-0 1st of 5 Pool B bye Won 7–1Portage Terriers Lost 3–4Brooks Bandits
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 List of ice hockey teams in Saskatchewan
References
External links Battlefords North Stars official website