The Norman Northstars will wrap up their 2017/2018 season this weekend the same way they began the season; against the expansion Winnipeg Bruins.

The two teams have played twice this season, both times in Winnipeg. The Bruins took the first game 4-1, and the second 13-3. Winnipeg Blues prospect Ty Naaykens, who currently sits second on the team in scoring with 57 points (26G, 31A), dominated the Nor-Man side with four points in the opener (2G, 2A) and five points in the second game (4G, 1A).

The Bruins, who left Winnipeg for Thompson this morning, are currently in a slump. They have lost six of their last seven games, including five straight. Despite the recent run of bad play, Winnipeg continues to hold on to third spot in the Manitoba Midget “AAA” League, four points up on fourth place Eastman and eight points up on the Winnipeg Thrashers.

The Norman Northstars are coming off a disappointing 12-5 loss to the Winnipeg Thrashers after upsetting the Winnipeg side 2-1 the night before. The Northstars were led in the offense department last weekend by captain Jerome Linklater, who had four helpers. Sheldin Howard and Keistin Saunders each had three points.

This weekend will mark the last chance for Linklater, Tanner Pilon, Jon Tagoona, Mitchell Reid and Keian Weseen to don a Northstars jersey. The five 2000-born players on the team will age out of midget hockey once the season comes to a close. Both Linklater and Pilon are in their second full season with the Nor-Man side, while Tagoona, Reid and Weseen made their debuts this year.

Both of the weekend games, tonight and tomorrow, against the Bruins will start at 7:30pm at the C.A. Nesbitt Arena in the T.R.C.C. If you can’t make it out to tonight’s game, tune in to 102.9 CHTM for the call of the game starting at 7:25pm.

There are three other midget “AAA” games on the go tonight here in Manitoba. The Eastman Selects are visiting the Winnipeg Thrashers, the Pembina Valley Hawks host the Brandon Wheat Kings, and the Parkland Rangers will battle the Southwest Cougars.