The Battlefords Midget Stars will head into the Mac's Tournament in Calgary and the 2013 portion of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League schedule in fourth place in the league standings.
The Stars had earned three ties in their last four games and ended the month of December with a 4-2-3 record.
The final league game of 2012 was played Saturday at the Civic Centre against the Saskatoon Contacts.
The Stars and Contacts combined for 91 shots in 65 minutes, as both goaltenders were named their team's players of the game. Rylan Toth made 41 saves in the Stars' net while Rylan Parenteau made 44. The teams tied 3-3.
There was no scoring in the first period and after the second period the Stars trailed 2-1. Terrell Draude and Vukie Mpofu scored power play goals for the Contacts while Austin Duzan scored shorthanded for the Stars for his 12th goal of the season.
The Stars top point producer Josh Bly tied the game nearly four minutes into the third period with his 10th of the season. Bly's goal was assisted by Robin Yew and Terrin Belosowsky.
Two minutes later on another power play, Rodney Southam scored for the Contacts to retake the lead.
The Stars finally capitalized on a power play of their own in the third period when Bly scored from Spencer Bast to make it 3-3.
After five minutes of overtime nothing was solved and the teams earned one point each.
The Stars were 1/7 with the man advantage while the Contacts were 3/7.
Saskatoon, the highest scoring team in the league, sits second in the SMAAAHL standings with a 17-6-3-1 record and four points up on the Stars.
The Stars will resume their league play Jan. 5 at home to the Saskatoon Blazers. This game will also be played to honour a Stars' alumni player Wade Belak who is from the Battlefords and had an extended National Hockey League career before his death in August of 2011. The game will feature an auction of jerseys and memorabilia, door prizes and a post-game social. All the funds raised will be donated to a trust fund created for Belak's daughters after his passing.
Everyone is invited to watch one of the best Midget Stars teams in the past decade and help remember Wade Belak.
