(Article courtesy Martin Martinson/BattlesfordNow)
It was all smiles in the North Stars locker room Thursday at the Access Communications Centre, as the Battlefords North Stars front office brass gathered together to announce a new five-year contract extension for three-time SJHL Coach of the Year, Brayden Klimosko.
Klimosko joined the North Stars as head coach and general manager in the spring of 2018, leading the team to the best record in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League since, at 163-49-14-7 over his first five years (four seasons due to the pandemic) behind the bench, in addition to a range of both personal and team accolades.
This includes a pair of SJHL championships in 2019 and 2023, his three SJHL Coach of the Year awards, and the Canadian Junior Hockey League Coach of the Year Award this season, as the top coach in Junior A hockey in the nation.
Klimosko, who was joined at the press conference by his fiancé Katlyn and son Jake, said he couldn’t be happier to re-up with the team.
“We were excited that we could make this work and we’re ecstatic about being here for another five,” Klimosko said, as a smile crept onto his fac“It feels like the last five years have flown by and it feels like our second home now. [The Battlefords] have treated us well and I’m looking forward to the next five.” – Brayden Klimosko
President of the North Stars, Kyle Kellgren said getting Klimosko locked up was at the very top of the list for the organization heading into the summer.
“For myself as president and the board, our number one priority going into this offseason was see if there was something we could get done with Brayden and get him here long-term. That was the most important thing,” Kellgren said.
“It’s something I’ve been thinking about all season. Brayden is the number one coach in junior hockey, he’s been the Coach of the Year three years in a row, and we’re lucky to have a guy with what he’s doing with this team. I’m ecstatic and I’m happy for our fans, I’m happy for our corporate sponsorships […] it’s a great day to be in the Battlefords and be a Battlefords North Star.”
In addition to winning 70 per cent of his games in the regular season, Klimosko has led the Stars to a league-high 29-7-3 record in 39 playoff games, for a 74.4 per cent win percentage in the post-season over his first five years.
Following their league championship in 22-23, Klimosko took the Stars to the Centennial Cup National Championship game in Portage, MB., finishing second overall of the 119 teams total in the CJHL.
