REGINA, SK
Battlefords poised to build on playoff success
If second-year head coach Connor Logan and this group caught anyone by surprise with a run to the second round last season, they should not catch anyone unawares this time around.
Yes, the graduation of big-time Stars — pun intended — such as Gavin Granger, Anthony Campbell and Josh Knittig will be felt. However, the list of players who made important contributions last season and return this year is a long one.
Long-time Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League standout Linken Fisher and breakout defensive stalwart Owen Dyck anchor a diverse blue line that deserves more respect. Up front, though, is where the Stars’ depth stands out most.
Finlay Klippenstein leads the way after a 26-goal, 40-point campaign. He is supported by a veteran cast that includes power forward Owen Nelson, long-time SJHL goal-scoring dynamo Raiden Zacharias, and speedsters Carter Geysen and Kobe Sawyer. With 10 forwards in the 2006 or 2007 age group, opportunities for younger players will need to be earned — a formula that should bode well for plenty of wins at the Access Communications Centre this season.
With the graduation of Kaeden Serpa, Logan made a splash by bringing in former Nipawin and Kindersley goaltender Nathan Claydon. Expected to receive the bulk of the work in net, Claydon is positioned to have as strong a season as any goaltender in the SJHL behind this experienced and talented group.
Let’s take a look at some key numbers from Battlefords’ last regular season:
SJHL Co-Director of Media Clark Munroe sat down with Head Coach and General Manager Connor Logan ahead of the 2026-27 season and got his thoughts on the upcoming year.
