Not often do players in the Battlefords get an opportunity to show up to the rink in shorts and a t-shirt, but Monday was the rare exception for two local hockey players, as a visit to the North Battleford Civic Centre marked the first of many as members of the Battlefords North Stars.
Battlefords North Stars head coach and general manager, Ken Pearson made it official Monday, as Dillon Forbes and Jared Samborski committed to playing with the North Stars next season.
Both Samborski and Forbes captained their midget AAA teams last season, have been long time fans of the North Stars and both are truly excited to join the club.
"We are looking for some guys who have some character and some leadership ability and both those guys were captains of their teams last year and that was something that was very important to us," said Pearson. "Both those kids work hard and are going to give us an honest effort every night. What they maybe lack a little bit in skill they make up in character and that is something we think we maybe lacked in last year."
Forbes, a 60?, 185-pound defenceman from North Battleford, had three goals, 10 assists and 154 penalty minutes in 36 games with the Battlefords Midget Stars last season. Forbes is excited to officially be a member of the team, which he is already somewhat familiar with after playing five regular season and four playoff games with the North Stars last year.
"The experience was great," said Forbes of last year's playoff run against Flin Flon, adding he hopes to be able to step into his role this year and contribute after becoming familiar with the coaching staff and many players who will be returning from last season's roster.
"He bring some physicality and calmness," said Pearson, but is also enthusiastic that Forbes' experience as a captain last season will contribute to a complete player on and off the ice.
What does Forbes hope to bring to the team?
"I want to play rough and tough and strong on defence," said the newly sign defenceman.
Samborski, a 57?, 165-pound forward, played with the Saskatoon Blazers last season and led his team in points with 16 goals and 19 assists in 42 games. He has developed a reputation as a player who will work hard until the final buzzer and is always excited to be at the hockey rink.
Energy and a passion for the game are characteristics used by Pearson to describe Samborski, who said it has been a process of more than three years to prepare for junior hockey and is now ecstatic to finally have the opportunity to play for the North Stars.
"He brings a ton of energy, which he does every single time you talk to the kid," said Pearson. "We want him to be a good teammate in the room and on the ice."
"It is a dream come true," said Samborski. "Growing up in this town I was a North Stars fan and you see them almost as NHL stars, so I am excited to come here, and there are no words to describe the feeling."
Unlike Forbes, Samborski has no SJHL experience, but during his four seasons and 135 regular season game in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League he has been a teammate of North Stars Tanner Schwab, Boyd Wakelin and Blake Tatchell with the Battlefords Stars as well as Braeden Johnson as a member of the Saskatoon Blazers.
"It is huge (to sign two local players), they are not getting signed here just because they are from town," said Pearson. "Both guys played AAA and were successful, Sammy was a point a game guy with Saskatoon and Forbes is a physical presence and can chip in offensively as well. I think it is huge for us for a lot of different reasons.
For the second straight season the North Stars graduated their captain and at least two assistants. Last season, Cris Neurauter, Tony Oak, Colin Phaneuf, Cody Folstad and Woody Klassen wore letters and all graduated except for Klassen, so leadership will be a welcomed addition once again to the North Stars this season.
Not only did the Battlefords Stars sign two locals, they also announced the commitment of defenceman Nathan Zimbaluk. Zimbaluk is a defenceman from Regina, who played with the Tisdale Trojans during the 2009-10 season and Regina Pats last season in the SMAAAHL. Zimaluk measures in at 62? 200 pounds and will be a welcomed addition of size and skill to the Battlefords North Stars. Zimbaluk's rights were traded from Estevan to the North Stars in September of 2010 for Dominc Perrault.
Pearson said there are still more players to sign in the next couple of weeks and the organization is just waiting for official confirmation to put the pen to paper and continue to look forward to the 2011-12 season.
