Just when it looked like the Estevan Apex Bruins had victory in the bag, the Lumsden/Bethune Lions began to claw away until the lead was in doubt.
Despite losing 5-4 in Game 2 of their two-game, total-goal opening round midget AA provincial series on Sunday, the Bruins hung on for a 7-6 victory series victory. Estevan had won the first game of the series 3-1 on Jan. 8.
"We played very well in the first and second period and for whatever reason, we came out a little flat in the third and let them back in and made things a little tighter than they needed to be," said Bruins head coach Tim Lequyer.
Kaelum Bieber, Chase McKersie, Zach Paxman and Dylan Herzberg had the Estevan goals. South Saskatchewan Minor Hockey League scoring leader Tyson Scott had two for Lumsden, along with singles from Braden Bentz, Parker Schikowski and Carson Cayer.
The Bruins led the game 4-2, and the series 7-3, late in the second period. But the Lions would score one before the buzzer and add two more in the third period before the Bruins bore down and stopped them from tying it.
"We definitely were focused more in our end until about the seven-minute mark (of the third), and then when we got to the seven-minute mark we actually had a few shifts where we put the pressure on them and ideally, we want to continue to do that because that's our game," said Lequyer. "Sitting back on our heels doesn't really hold well for the way we play."
The Lions had another goal called back late in the second period. The Bruins now advance to the second round of provincials, where they will face the Notre Dame Argos.
The Argos upset the first-place Swift Current Hurricanes on Sunday, winning Game 2 of their series 4-3 in triple-overtime to win the series 8-7.
Dates for the Bruins-Argos series had not been determined as of press time.
"Every round is going to get tougher, but we know all the teams we're playing against and we've had success against all of them, so we're confident going forward that we have a chance," said Lequyer.
On Saturday, the Bruins tied the second-place Notre Dame Hounds 5-5, remaining one point behind the Hounds.
Notre Dame came out flying, scoring three times in the first five minutes, but the Bruins would respond with two goals of their own a minute apart. The Hounds added a fourth tally with 15 seconds left in the frame.
"Again, we came out a little flat and for whatever reason we were just standing there watching them," said Lequyer. "We felt we outplayed them quite badly in the second and third periods and their goaltender made some nice saves and we got some unlucky bounces."
Herzberg scored twice for the Bruins to go with singles from McKersie, Jason Hengen and Paxman.
Montana Giesbrecht, Matt Morrison, Levi Anderson, Jon Paris and Andrew Antsanen scored for the Hounds.
Estevan scored three goals in a span of 10 minutes in the second period to take the lead, but Antsanen's goal midway through the third tied the game for good.
The Bruins had a lengthy 5-on-3, followed by another power play, in the last four minutes of regulation but failed to take advantage.
It was a busy weekend for Apex Bruins goalie Levi Eiteneier, who started both of his team's games and also served as the backup goalie for the SJHL Bruins for all three of their weekend contests.
"It was a pretty special weekend for him. All the kids are giving him quite a razzing, but it's just a great experience for him and well deserved," said Lequyer. "He's played well for us and it's nice of the Bruins to call him up and give him a little experience as to what it's about."
