The Stars finished off their season winning two of their last three games.Brainerd
The Stars last game of the year was a playoff game against Brainerd. Brainerd overpowered the Stars 16-0 on Saturday, Feb. 13.
The Stars were seeded ninth as expected, so they had to play the eighth seed to see who would play Roseau.
The game wasn’t good for the Stars. Brainerd was able to dominate the entire game, making for a very lop-sided score.
“We just aren’t at the same playing level as the AA teams,” said captain Dustin Looman.
It must be noted the Stars played very hard throughout the game.
Looman, along with Thompson, were praised for the way they went all out during the game.
Goalie John Manthei faced 59 shots, with many of them being very tough shots. Manthei recorded 43 saves on the day.
Stars: 0 0 0 - 0
Brainerd: 6 8 2 - 16
Morris
The Stars first win, 4-3, came in an exciting overtime game at Morris on Feb. 9.
The Stars had lost earlier in the season to Morris without senior goaltender John Manthei. With Manthei back, the Stars were looking to get even with Morris.
The Stars looked to dominate the Tigers, but they weren’t able to maintain a strong offensive presence.
Brett Theisen scored the first goal of the game, with assists from Dustin Looman and Jeremy Curran.
Scott Fritz was able to double the lead with a pure hustle goal. Ryan Mackedanz’s break away shot was stopped by the Morris goalie, but Fritz skated hard at the net and was able to swat the rebound in.
The Stars came out flat in the second period, and Morris capitalized scoring quickly. The Stars were able to recover, but were not able to score any more goals in the period.
In the third period, Morris was able to tie the game with under three minutes to play in regulation.
Mackedanz added to the great game by scoring a minute after the Morris goal, with assists from Curran and Looman.
The Stars went to a “prevent defense” (only one fore-checker), but Morris was able to get two open players in front of the Stars’ goal with the puck, sending the game into OT.
The Stars incurred two unsports-manlike penalties after the officials ruled that what looked like a Stars goal was not.
Despite the penalties, the Stars were able to fight for the win. Curran knocked the game winner in, with assists from Mackedanz and Looman.
Stars: 2 0 1 1- 4
Morris: 0 2 1 0- 3
Sauk Centre
The Stars faced another West Central team Thursday, Feb. 11, at Richmond, beating Sauk Centre 5-3.
The game wasn’t the best game of the year for the Stars, but the team never gave up and was able to come through in crunch time.
Sauk Centre jumped to an early 1-0 lead off a power play when a Mainstreeter intercepted the puck in the slot.
Brad Koultes was able to tie the game off a shorthanded hustle goal. Koultes and Fritz were killing the penalty when the Sauk Centre goalie came out of the crease to play the puck. Fritz was able to get the puck to Koultes, who scored on a very tough shot.
No one scored until the last minute in the second period when John Thompson, a senior defenseman from Rocori, scored with a shot from the point.
Sauk Centre followed 30 seconds later with a goal of their own to tie the game at two.
Sauk Centre scored early in the third, waking up the Stars for good. The Stars were then able to dominate the rest of the game.
Theisen, with assists from linemates Mackedanz and Eric Habben, scored the game tying goal with a shot from the slot.
Mike Losinski, with a pass from Curran, scored the game winning goal with a shot coming from the end line, a very poor angle shot which somehow made it through.
Kurt Habben scored an insurance goal off passes from Eric Habben and Mackedanz.
Stars: 1 1 3 - 5
Sauk: 1 1 1 - 3