The North Stars may have been able to go back-to-back and win the cup this year despite two losses to the Sydney Ice Dogs, including its 2-1 downing by the team on Saturday.

But having to concede its game against Sydney Bears in Penrith on Sunday due to an officiating clash, a Wilson Cup win is no longer possible for the North Stars.

North Stars coach Andrew Petrie said it was difficult to build rhythm in Saturday’s penalty-filled game against the Ice Dogs.

"Rhythm is what you hope for in preseason games," he said.

"I thought our basic structure when we were five-on-five was actually really good. 

"Their first goal was fairly opportunistic, I thought. It was a bounce off some shin pads.

"Then their second goal they got as a result of a scramble. We failed to control the rebound infront of our own net, which created bit of a problem there.

"We really on had three or four defencemen for the whole game so, our D did a really good job."

North Stars fans saw regular players John Kennedy, Hamish Powell, Matt Wetini, Dave Ferrari, Pat Nadin, Jayson Chalker and goaltender Dayne Davis at Saturday's game.

Former North Stars players Hayden Sheard and Tim Stanger filled out the ranks alongside Josh Hansen, Sam Lammert, backup goaltender Harley Quintin-Jones and new faces Antoine Aubin and 17-year-old Liam Manwarring.

It was the North Stars who scored first in Saturday's Wilson Cup game.

However, it was waved off only for the Ice Dogs to get it back by the end of the first period.

The Ice Dogs led most of the game, until Kennedy, captain for Newcastle, slapped a shot off the blue line to Wetini in front of the net and scored in the opening of the final period.

Former North Star and now Ice Dogs player Adam Kimbley broke the tie with five minutes remaining in the game.

The game was filled with fiery encounters.

Sydney's David Dunwoodie and Newcastle's Chalker were sent off in the first period for fighting.

Ferrari and Sydney's Zane Mcoy sat five minute penalties each for a fight in the third period.

The losses, and being out of contention for the Wilson Cup, has not perturbed Petrie.

The pre-season tournament to him was a chance to see players aiming for a spot on the North Stars' bench this season out on the ice.

”I saw potential in some of the guys and had some suspicions about others confirmed,” Petrie said.

As for the start of the AIHL season on April 23, Petrie said he was looking forward to it.

"I'm very much looking forward to things getting under way and getting serious again," he said. 

The North Stars will play their final Wilson Cup game at HISS against the Sydney Bears from 5pm on Saturday, April 9.