The U18 AAA Red Deer Optimist Chiefs pushed until the end but came up just short of their goal.
With two games left in the Alberta Elite Hockey League regular season, the Chiefs were four points from tying the Calgary Northstars for the sixth and final playoff spot in the South Division.
A loss to the Northstars on Saturday afternoon mathematically eliminated them from postseason contention.
The Chiefs didn’t go out without a fight notching the first goal of the game to go up 1-0 off the stick of Chase Christensen on the powerplay. The Northstars tied it in the second period and took the lead late in the final frame.
However, the Chiefs continued to push for the equalizer outshooting Calgary 21-5 in the third. Red Deer pulled the goaltender for the extra attacker and Calgary sealed the deal with an empty net goal.
Red Deer won two of their final four games of the regular season beating the Calgary Royals 6-5 in overtime on Sunday. Playoffs begin next weekend with the Calgary Buffaloes as the number-one seed.