After a 2-2-0-1 record in exhibition, Martin Smith and the Battlefords Midget Stars turn their attention to the regular season.
Wednesday night, the Stars hosted the Saskatoon Contacts and played one of their most complete games of the pre-season, unfortunately they lost 3-2 despite the well-rounded effort.
"We ran into a hot goaltender, I think he played really well," said Stars head coach Martin Smith following the game. "We just started to grip the sticks a little too much and didn't get our heads up. All-in-all I was happy with the effort, we still need to raise it to another level."
Regan Santoro started in net for the Stars, looking sharp, and the Stars welcomed back forward Colby Cave, who was at WHL camp with the Kootenay Ice.
Cave made an impact on his first shift as he was sprung on a partial breakaway, but could beat the Contacts' goalie Patrick Johnson.
Minutes later, Cody Pangracz scored the game's first goal as he roofed a shot from the slot to put Saskatoon in front.
The Contacts were looking for more later in the first, but hit the crossbar and the Stars tied the game shortly after. Ryne Keller fired a good low shot on net, which was kicked to Justin Lund for the tap in. Colby Daniels had an assist on the play.
The Contacts hit another crossbar and Cave created another scoring chance, but the score after one period remained 1-1.
Through the first 10 minutes of the second, the teams traded chances, but to no avail. Santoro made a beautiful glove stop for his final save before being replaced by Blair Mahon.
The Contacts were buzzing around the Stars' net once Mahon took over and thanks to a quick whistle on a scramble the score remained tied. Mahon got into the offensive act later in the period, as he sent Cave in on another partial break away, but again Johnson made one of his many great saves.
On a Saskatoon powerplay late in the second, Taylor Leier let a rocket go from the faceoff dot and it beat Mahon off the far post and giving the Contacts a 2-1 lead.
Mahon got some redemption seconds later as he made a huge pad save on a breakaway to keep it a one-goal game.
Five minutes into the third, the Stars were on the powerplay and capitalized, as Lund centered a pass for Daniels who fired the shot through Johnson's legs. Keller also drew an assist on the play.
The Stars were on a powerplay 10 minutes later, but it was the Contacts scoring shorthanded to take the lead. This time it was a quick shot by Kohl Bauml.
After pulling their goalie, the Stars pressed to tie the game and created several chances, but it wasn't meant to be, as Johnson was solid making 34 saves for the win.
Santoro finished with 17 saves while Mahon had 16 in the losing effort.
"We knew coming in that we had three capable goaltenders who were going to battle for spots and now it is going to come down to finding the best fit for our hockey club," said Smith.
The Stars now wipe the slate clean and prepare for the regular season, which starts this weekend when they host Regina Saturday and Sunday.
Coming into the season expectations are higher than the past five seasons and a playoff spot is what the Stars are shooting for with a more experienced team this season.
"I don't think we can be satisfied with just playing well. We are measured on wins and losses, more so this year, than any other year. Our expectations are to finish in the top six and, with the guys we have in the room, there is no reason we can't," said Smith.
Smith still had a goaltending and defenceman decision to make following Wednesday's game, but planned to meet with the several people who evaluated the team throughout the pre-season to help finalize the roster.
Wednesday night, the Stars dressed eight defenceman to give the players fighting for the final spot a valid chance to earn it. The final roster will likely include two goalies, seven defenceman and 11 forwards.
