The CanElson Drilling Estevan Bruins picked up three of a possible four points during their most recent games, as they lost 4-3 in overtime at home to the Flin Flon Bombers on October 20, and defeated the Weyburn Red Wings 5-2 in Weyburn on October 21.
Estevan led Flin Flon 1-0 after the first period, and 2-0 after two. Austin Yano and Tanner Froese scored in the first and second periods, respectively.
Flin Flon scored early in the third to pull within a goal, and took the lead with two goals in a 76-second span midway through the frame. Matt Brykaliuk tied the game for Estevan with a power play marker in the waning seconds of the third period.
Flin Flon scored the winning goal 33 seconds into overtime.
Estevan also had a two-goal lead through two periods against Weyburn, and remained in control in the third.
Darcy DeRoose opened the scoring for Estevan in the first period. Cole Olson upped the lead to 2-0 early in the second, but former Bruin Ryan Ostertag cut the deficit in half moments later. Froese restored the two-goal lead before the period was over.
Weiss scored 13 seconds into the third to give the Bruins a 4-1 lead, and later added a second goal to make the score 5-1. Ostertag tallied once more for Weyburn to round out the scoring.
“I think it showed that our guys, when they want to be, can be very mentally resilient, because that was a huge emotional swing on Saturday night (against Flin Flon), going from being up on one of the upper echelon teams in the league, to having them tying them game (and taking the lead), and then us tying the game, and going to overime, there were a lot of swings there,” said head coach/GM Keith Cassidy.
“Ultimately to lose that game, it would have been easy to fold up our tents and say ‘That’s it,’ but we didn’t,” said Cassidy. “We were mentally resilient, we came back on Sunday night and showed the good side of our team.”
Curtis Martinu started in goal both nights. He stopped 31 shots against Flin Flon, and he made 23 saves versus Weyburn.
The club did a better job of generating offence, Cassidy said, especially in Weyburn, by getting pucks to the right areas, so they could capitalize on their chances. Cassidy felt the players were also more creative.
“We tried to be less pretty, and more deliberate, with what we were doing with the puck, but at the same time, still maintaining some creativity to it,” said Cassidy.
Even though Estevan scored eight goals in two games, Cassidy said they’re still looking to acquire more scorers.
The Bruins return to the ice October 26 when they host the Battlefords Stars. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Then they visit the Yorkton Terriers on October 30.
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Defenceman Tyler Kauk has been selected to attend a selection camp in Calgary at the end of the month for the upcoming World Junior A Hockey Challenge. Kauk was the only SJHL defenceman chosen to participate in the camp. A total of 60 players from the five western Junior A leagues in Canada have received invitations. The World Junior A Challenge will happen in Truro, Nova Scotia, in November.
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On the injury front, winger Calder Neufeld continues to recover from a high ankle sprain. Cassidy wasn’t sure if Neufeld would be back for the game against the Battlefords. Neufeld was to be re-evaluated on October 24. Goaltender Steven Glass skated in full equipment on October 23, which marks another step forward in his recovery from knee surgery.
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The Bruins have also announced they will be hosting the “Millennium Stimulations Services Skills Clinics” during the 2012-13 season. Assistant coach Cole Zahn will run the sessions.
The clinics are for peewee and bantam-aged players. The first set of sessions, which begin at 7 a.m. every Wednesday, will run from November 7 to December 12; the second will be from January 9 to March 13.
They will emphasize fundamental on-ice skills, teamwork and fitness in a positive learning environment.
Breakfast will be served after each clinic.
