By Roger White

Star support at its high point for championship weekend

Apr 28, 2017 | 12:00 PM

Excitement surrounding the Battlefords North Stars is spreading fast.

With the team posting one of the best seasons ever in the SJHL this year fans are pumped about their hometown heroes chances at the 2017 Western Canada Cup which kicks off Saturday in Penticton B.C.

The team posted a 48-9-1-0 record during the regular season and during the SJHL playoffs an unprecedented 12 consecutive games to sweep all three post-season rounds on their way to their first Canalta Cup championship since the 1999-2000 season.

“This community eats, sleeps and breathes North Stars,”  Nic Fransoo, Program Manager of CJNB/CJNS, Q98 and The Rock said. “Every time we post a story on our website it becomes the most popular story on our page. It’s terrific to see this kind of support.”

In the windows of hundreds of businesses and homes throughout the Battlefords you can see the “Go Stars Go” signs showing their support of the team.

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“We printed 8,000 signs this year,” Carey Tollefson, owner of Ultra Print Services, said. “We have just a handful of the posters left but if need be we can certainly print more and may have to if the Stars continue to have the success they have.”

North Battleford Mayor Ryan Bater had a warning for the city of Penticton in the wake of the Western Canada Cup.

“Penticton had better watch out because there is a North wind blowing from the East to capture the Western Canada Cup,” Bater said. “I was actually in Penticton last week and all over the city [I saw] banners about the tournament. I felt tremendous pride in knowing that our North Stars were going to be there competing.”

Like every hockey fan in the area, Bater is anxious for the tournament to get underway.

“I like everyone else who lives here [am] very excited,” Bater added. “This is not just about being a provincial champion but now the North Stars are going to bring back the Western Canada Cup. It’s amazing.

“I hope the team knows that the entire community is behind them. We will be tuned into the broadcasts on the radio and streaming the game online if we can. Hopefully the boys will hear us cheering them on from back home here,” Bater said.

The North Stars open the tournament on Saturday when they face the Penticton Vees.

Your official voice of the Battlefords North Stars throughout the Western Canada Cup tournament is CJNB/CJNS. Saturday’s game against Penticton will begin with an extended Ultra Print pre-game show at 7:30 p.m. with Nathan Kanter followed by Norsask North Stars Western Canada Cup action on CJNB/CJNS at 8 p.m.

roger.white@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW