To say the Battlefords Midget Stars and Saskatoon Contacts don't like each other might be the understatement of the season.
In Saskatoon's game one win there were 31 penalty minutes issued between the two teams and one game misconduct. In game two at Civic Centre, there were 145 penalty minutes issued and another game misconduct.
From those two games, the Stars were without two defencemen in Braden Lacoursiere and Maxim Powiada for game three, as they were both serving suspensions. The Contacts also had a player serving a suspension and out of the lineup for game three.
In game three Tuesday in Saskatoon, 60 penalty minutes were issued as well as a gross misconduct, which will likely result in a suspension carrying over to next season.
Saskatoon scored two power plays goals Tuesday en route to a 4-1 and the 3-0 series sweep of the Stars. Cameron Hebig scored a power play goal in the first period for Saskatoon, as that was the lone goal of the period.
In the second, Jaiden Focht was flagged early in the period and received a four-minute head contact penalty and a gross misconduct. Five other players also received penalties on the same play.
The Stars were able to collect themselves later in the period, as Austin Duzan scored a power play goal from Regan Yew and Josh Bly. Duzan led all Stars in the playoffs with two goals and had an assist as well.
The Stars outshot the Contacts 20-12 in the second period, but couldn't grab the lead. In the third period Branden Scheidl scored even strength, Jesse Shynkaruk scored on a power play and Rodney Southam sealed the game with an even strength goal.
Rylan Toth was named the Stars' player of the game, as he made 35 saves. Rylan Parenteau, who started all three games for the Contacts, made 38 saves in the win. He had a 1.67 goals-against average in the series.
After an impressive 19-win Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League regular season, the Stars season comes to an end after three playoff games. For all the players and coaches it was the first time they had reached the playoffs in a Stars jersey. Although it was a disappointing end to the season this is a much improved hockey program and something the players can hold their heads high about.
The 2012-13 Stars will look now to move 10 players on to higher hockey, as they graduate from the program in their final year of midget eligibility.
Defenceman Robin Yew, Powiada and Eric Pfeifer all graduate from the team along with forwards Dustin Bast, Ryan Frehlick, Terrin Belosowsky, Duzan, Kent Walchuk, Regan Yew and Brian Hillis.
Powiada, Bast, Frehlick, Belosowsky, Walchuk and Hillis were all new to the Stars' program this season.
