After busting out of the gate with a win to start the exhibition season, the Battlefords Midget Stars have struggled to win in their final four exhibition games.
Thursday, in Saskatoon against the Contacts, the Stars played a solid first period leading 2-1. The Contacts eventually turned up the pressure and skated to an 8-2 win.
A bonus for the Stars was that Blake Young was back in the lineup and cleared to play after sitting out with an injury. He scored the Stars' two goals in the first period. Klhisis Derocher and Jordan Braun had the assists on the goal.
Blair Mahon played the full game and faced 40 shots in the loss.
Two days later, the Contacts were in North Battleford and the final score was 5-3 for Saskatoon.
It appeared the Stars were three different teams in the three periods, as they were tied 2-2 after the first, but trailed 5-3 after the second and both teams were held scoreless in the third.
Young, Carter Danczak and Tyson Empey were the goal scorers for the Stars, but the Contacts capitalized on two of their 13 power plays and scored once shorthanded to capture the win.
Nigel Rempel was saddled with the loss after allowing five goals on 25 shots. Mahon stopped all eight shots he faced in 20 minutes.
The Stars, Danczak led the teams' offence with nine points in five pre-season games, and also led the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League in pre-season points.
The Stars' coach Lorne Nielsen had some final roster decisions to make after Saturday, as the Stars start the regular season in Wilcox against the Notre Dame Argos.
