The Regina Pat Canadians won’t have much time to enjoy the view from on top of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League standings.

The Pat C’s concluded their regular-season schedule on Tuesday with a 5-3 win over the Notre Dame Argos, finishing with the best record in the 12-team league at 31-9-0-4.

However, that record will officially reset on Friday when Regina opens a best-of-five playoff series against the Battlefords Stars (7:30 p.m., Co-operators Centre).

“(The players) accomplished something very special but we all know that’s over now and the next phase begins,” offered Pat Canadians head coach Darrin McKechnie. “We’re very proud that they finished on top of the league. Nobody can ever take that away from them but … we have a new task and nobody is going to give them anything. They have to take it just like anybody else in the league.”

Regina placed second in the SMAAAHL last season (34-8-0-2) before marching through the playoffs en route to the team’s first provincial title since 1999, eventually finishing third in the Telus Cup national championship.

Last year’s team was an offensive powerhouse, but the 2015-16 squad is known more for its defensive prowess, allowing a league-low 88 goals in 44 games.

Goaltender Curtis Meger was the main beneficiary, finishing with the best goals-against average in the league (1.68).

“Let’s face it, all kids want to score goals,” noted McKechnie. “It’s hard to get kids to buy into the style of play that I consider playing the right way and taking care of your own end.

It’s not always the fun part but that’s why I take my hat off to the kids because we do have strong goaltending and we do have a great core of defence but it was also our forwards.

Our play in our own end has been very good. If you look at the stats it’s one of our strengths and hopefully that will keep rolling through the playoffs.”

Regina posted a 2-2-0 record this season against the Stars, who finished eighth in the league at 20-20-0-4, grabbing the last playoff spot. The Pat Canadians visited North Battleford in the second week of the regular season, losing 2-1 and 3-2. They followed up in December with back-to-back 7-2 wins on home ice.

After battling injuries all season, the Pat C’s expect to have all hands on deck heading into the playoffs. McKechnie anticipates a stiff test from the Stars, whose roster includes five players from Regina: Keelan Saworski, Donavon Beatty, JC Dubecky, Mason Mullaney and Tanner Brewster.

The first four played under McKechnie last season with the midget AA Regina Capitals.

“They’re a very good team, they have a very good coach and they also have a good Regina contingent,” added the Pat C’s head coach. “They have some real good quality players. It’s going to be a great series. We expect it to be a hard-fought series that is going to feature a little bit of everything. Just like anybody else, we’re hoping to come out on top.”

Game 2 of the series is slated for Sunday (2 p.m.) in North Battleford, followed by Game 3 on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.) at the Co-operators Centre.

If necessary, Game 4 would be Thursday, March 3 (7:30 p.m.) in North Battleford. Game 5 would follow on Sunday, March 6 (1:30 p.m.) at the Co-operators.