It wasn’t the ending the Weyburn Red Wings wanted to the 2016-17 season, but they went out with one of their best outings on the season. They fell 4-3 to the Battlefords North Stars Tuesday night, as the North Stars completed the four game sweep over the Red Wings in the SJHL quarterfinals.

The Wings came out firing, trying to test Stars goalie Joel Grzybowski as often as possible. The efforts paid off, as Mike Eskra scored his first of the postseason with just under six minutes remaining in the period. Ty Brown picked up the assist, his third of the playoffs.

The North Stars would reply just over a minute later, though, when Troy Gerein found the twine behind Jake MacLennan for the second time in the postseason.

The Battlefords jumped out to a 2-1 lead early in the second period, when Keaton Holinaty scored his third of the playoffs. Weyburn wouldn’t let the lead last long, though.

Carson Rose, who had been held off the scoresheet by the North Stars in the series, beat Grzybowski. Jacob Wozney picked up his first point of the series with the assist. Weyburn wasn't finished with the scoring, either. Ben Hiltz put a point shot on Grzybowski that made it’s way through traffic, giving the Wings a 3-2 lead. The goal would spell the end of the night for the young goalie for the Stars, as he was replaced by Taryn Kotchorek.

The Battlefords would then even things up one more time before the end of the period. Connor Sych would find the back of the net for the first time in the playoffs, set up by Layne Young and Coby Downs.

The North Stars would take the lead again early in the third period, when Ben Allen scored his sixth of the series. Weyburn then dedicated to throwing everything they could muster at Kotchorek, but were unable to beat him to tie the game up, and the game ended in the 4-3 score.

For the Red Wings the season is over. There will be six players from the team who are graduating out of the program: Connor Burk, Ian Parker, Braden Mellon, Donavon Lumb, Carson Rose, and Jake Wozney. Wozney has committed to Red Deer College of the ACAC for next season. Parker is being courted by a number of schools, as are the other 20-year-old players.

For the coaching staff, there is still a lot left on their plates. The team will be holding their spring camp this coming weekend. There will also be the Bantam Draft to prepare for, which will be held at the end of the season, along with general manager’s meetings.

The team’s awards banquet will be held in the coming days, as the team honours the performances by the players.