The Battlefords Midget Stars hosted the Swift Current Legionnaires on the weekend and had a chance to leap frog them and the Saskatoon Blazers in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League, but failed to do so.
In both games, the Stars fell behind early and, despite their best efforts, couldn't battle back to tie the game, losing both by one goal.
Friday, Blair Mahon started in net for the Stars, but after giving up two goals in just over 13 minutes on nine shots, he was replaced by Regan Santoro.
After the first, Sam Ramsay and Dayton Reinboldt had the Legionnaires in front 2-0.
Reinboldt put Swift Current up 3-0 in the second, but Jesse Gerbig responded for the Stars. Gerbig's 12th of the season was assisted by Ryne Keller.
After 40 minutes, the Stars trailed 21-14 in shots and 3-1 on the scoreboard.
Dylan Baer increased the Legionnaires' lead early in the third, but the Stars battled back and made a game of it.
Keller netted his fourth of the season from Colby Cave and Dillon Forbes with five minutes left. One minute later, Blake Young put his 13th of the season by Swift Current's Kyler Beckett. Cave earned his second assist on the goal, which made it a 4-3 game.
The Stars pulled their goalie trying to tie the game, but to no avail, as the Legionnaires held on for the 4-3 win.
The Stars dressed affiliated players Carter Amson and Brody Tatchell to help fill the void injuries void and a short roster Friday night.
Saturday, Amson was back in the lineup with Zackary Nedlec joining him as an affiliated player but the result was the same.
The Stars fired everything they had at Beckett Saturday, but again, falling behind early was their downfall.
Ten seconds into the game, Tanner Froese beat Santoro and put the Stars behind.
Later in the first, Taylor Watts pounced on a rebound putting the Stars behind 2-0.
Colby Daniels got the Stars on the board later in the first, as he one-timed a shot from the circle on his off wing. Daniels' 10th of the season was assisted by Dylan Fluter.
Before the first ended, Alex Laird picked a rebound up off the post and chipped the puck by Santoro making it 3-1 after 20 minutes.
In the second, the Stars came out with more jump, but had trouble hitting the net with point blank shots early. It was Reinboldt scoring the first goal of the second period with a one timer off the cross bar for Swift Current. That would be the end of Santoro's night, as he was replaced by Mahon.
Two minutes after taking over, Mahon was beat glove side by Cody McKinnon putting Swift Current up 5-1.
The Stars received a spark on a powerplay two minutes later. Rookie defenceman Reece Fenrich blasted a shot from the point and it went through traffic and Beckett for his first of the season.
Regan Yew and Keller had the assists.
The Stars added a second powerplay goal before the second ended, as Jeff Olson hit Cave on a cross-crease pass, which he one timed and beat Beckett. Cave's 11th of the year was also assisted by Garrett Zelinski.
In the third, the Stars scored three times, but a shorthanded goal and an empty net goal were the difference giving Swift Current the 7-6 win.
Laird scored shorthanded seven minutes into the third on a five-on-three breakaway.
Still with one player in the penalty box, Gerbig sniped the top corner making it a 6-4 game. Cody Thiel and Zelinski assisted on Gerbig's goal.
Young scored on a rebound with four minutes remaining in the third making it a one-goal game, as Olson drew an assist.
The Stars' pulled their goalie and Swift Current hit the empty net to go up 7-5.
Yew scored with a second left from Forbes to put the Stars within a goal, but after outshooting Swift Current 49-29 it was tough loss to take.
This time Mahon was saddled with the loss while Santoro had a loss on his record Friday night.
The Stars head into their final eight games of the season with a 9-26-1-0 record.
Saturday and Sunday the Stars will be in Wilcox to take on the last place Notre Dame Hounds, who have just two wins this season.
