It was a competitive but ultimately frustrating weekend for the Battlefords Midget Stars against the Swift Current Legionnaires.
The Stars lost by scores of 5-2 and 4-3 on the weekend, as they couldn't shake off their losing start to the 2011-2012 season, with 17 losses this season. Still, the team gave fans some hope of turning things around soon, as both games were competitive.
In the first game, Swift Current got off to fast start with three goals in the first period. Cody McKinnon, on the power play, Austin Larochelle and Justin Spagrud all scored to give the Legionnaires a 3-0 lead before Blake Young scored from Drew Soderberg and Robin Yew to make it 3-1.
In the second, Dom Vallee made it 4-1 before Kihisis Derocher's goal from Carter Danczak and Brock Weston pulled the Stars closer at 4-2.
Late in the third, with the Stars on a power play, Robin Yew was sent to the box for slashing with 3:07 remaining, goaltender Blair Mahon was pulled for the extra attacker to give the Stars the advantage. But Matthew Audette's empty-netter with 2:36 left ended the Stars' hopes for a comeback as Swift Current won 5-2. Shots on goal ended up 29-27 for the Legionnaires.
The Sunday afternoon matchup, also at North Battleford Civic Centre, saw the Stars take an early lead on Danczak's goal from Brock Weston and Jordaan Braun.
Goals from Zac Mackay and Audette, the second one coming with 16 seconds left in the period on the power play, gave the Legionnaires a 2-1 lead.
Audette's goal in the second made it 3-1 before Regan Yew scored to make it 3-2. Young assisted on Yew's third of the season, which matched his total from last season as a rookie with the Stars.
Mackay's second goal extended the Swift Current lead to 4-2 after two.
The lone marker in the third came from Tyson Empey, as Weston drew the assist. The Battlefords outshot Swift Current 43-29 in the game including 13-3 in the third period, but couldn't get the tying goal despite Swift Current's Zac Mackay getting the gate for misconduct late in the game.
In all 19 penalties were called in the game: 12 to Swift Current and seven to the Stars.
The wins lift Swift Current to sixth place in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League at 10-9-0-0, while the Stars remain stuck at the bottom of the league with just a single victory.
The next action for the Stars is Saturday and Sunday when they host the Notre Dame Argos at the Civic Centre.
