AMES, IA - The Kansas City Stars will have to wait at least another year before achieving a Midwest High School Hockey League Varsity championship, falling to the consolation side of the championship tournament bracket after dropping their opening game to the Des Moines Capitals by a 3-1 final.

The Stars will now face the loser of the Des Moines Oak Leafs/Mason City Mohawks game to see if they will have a Sunday game for a 5th or 6th place finish. That game is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday).

Kansas City fell behind in today's quarterfinal game after Alex Blow took a holding call with just under two minutes to play in the first period for the first penalty of the game and the Capitals scored quickly on the power play for a 1-0 lead.

The Stars were able to tie the game in the second. Des Moines took their first penalty, and, late on the ensuing power play, after beating a trio of Capitals into the attacking zone, AJ Emmons found Logan Lopicka in the middle of the ice between the hash marks and the leading scorer in the JV league ripped a wrist shot past Cameron Brooks to tie the game at 1-1.

Later in the period, after a Stars giveaway, Des Moines regained the lead and would never relinquish it. An empty net goal with 15 seconds to play finished off the scoring.

The game began late as the Stars' bus didn't arrive at the ISU Ice Arena until around 12:30p for the scheduled noon game. No doubt the long bus ride had its effect on the Stars' play.

If the Stars can win tomorrow morning's game, they'll play again on Sundady morning. If not, it'll be an early exit for Kansas City, as this year's tournament has no 7th place game.