Baraboo/Portage Thunderbirds saw its varsity hockey season come to an abrupt end with a 3-1
loss against the Madison Memorial Spartans at Pierce Park Pavilion in its Division 1, Section 3 playoff opener on Tuesday night.
Thunderbirds held home ice advantage, but the match brought together the number eight T-Birds and number nine Spartans and there was little separation from much of the mid-pack squads in the section.
Spartans scored the lone goal of the opening period but Thunderbirds senior Josh Beale converted a feed from fellow senior Cameron Logan to even things up in the middle period.
The game winner came during a rash of penalties near the end of the second period, both teams killing off infractions through the final five minutes.
The Spartans never gave the home side an opportunity to mount much of an attack in the final frame and a third goal in the second half of the period was a back breaker.
Thunderbirds wrap up an 11-13-1 season with the loss to the Spartans and this was the final game for a solid group of seniors including goaltender Dane Hinz; defenseman George Fitzwilliams and forwards Campbell Koseor; Beale; Logan; Will Gunnell and Justin Kufner.
Sauk Hockey 