ROCHESTER &045; The final weekend of the season did not reflect the 2002-03 season for the Albert Lea Blades.

The Blades, champions of the Southern Minnesota Hockey League, lost all three of their games in Rochester’s Return of the Robin Tournament.

&uot;It wasn’t pretty,&uot; said Blades general manager Jason Fornwald.

But it was a good year for the locals, who finished 17-7-1 and won two tournaments in addition to the SMHL crown.

&uot;Overall, it was a good year and it was a lot of fun,&uot; said Fornwald. &uot;We’re already looking forward to next year.&uot;

But they’ll forget last weekend, when the absence of four players left the Blades shorthanded against some talented opposition.

&uot;We were short on defensemen,&uot; said Fornwald. &uot;In that tournament, if you’re defense is weak, you’re going to have some trouble.&uot;

The Blades lost 8-5 to a Rochester team on Friday, fell 7-3 to a St. Paul squad on Saturday and, on Sunday, lost 14-5 to a Spring Lake Park team that was 2-0 and reached the finals.

&uot;It was excellent hockey, very skilled teams,&uot; said Fornwald. &uot;Our division was made up of almost all former college players, Division I to Division III. We were a little outmatched this weekend, but still it was a fun tournament.&uot;

Playing for the Blades in the tournament were Fornwald, Levi Hendrickson, Jeremy Hendrickson, Kris Ellsworth, Nate Ellsworth, David Nystrom, Marty Anderson, Travis Diaz, Travis Brua, Justin Bolinger, Mike Nelson, Don Savelkoul, Chris Lehman and Jason Ferrington.