KINDERSLEY - The Estevan Bruins defeated the host Kindersley Klippers 1-0 on Wednesday night to earn a split in their two-game road trip through northwest Saskatchewan, and the win had added significance.
It was the 500th victory for head coach-general manager Jason Tatarnic as a coach at the junior A level. Previously he has been the head coach with the Woodstock Slammers of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League and the Chilliwack Chiefs of the B.C. Hockey League.
Tatarnic has been the Bruins’ head coach-GM since the spring of 2020.
Mark Rumsey had the Bruins’ lone goal in the contest – a power-play marker 4:33 into the second period.
Cam Hrdlicka made 28 saves for the Bruins to earn the shutout victory, including 15 in the first period. Matthew Pesenti stopped 40 of the 41 shots he faced for Kindersley.
The day before in North Battleford, the Bruins had a 4-2 lead on the Battlefords North Stars after two periods, only to lose 5-4 in a shootout.
The two teams were tied at 1-1 after the first period, with Jake Southgate opening the scoring 4:29 into the first period for the North Stars, and Brandon Ambrozik replying for the Bruins.
Prescot Senger scored for the Bruins 3:11 into the second period, but Southgate tied the game 1:39 later. Goals by Dayton Deics and Caelan Fitzpatrick gave the Bruins the 4-2 edge after two periods.
Stars goalie Michael Harroch left the game after Fitzpatrick’s goal due to an apparent injury. He stopped 26 of the 30 shots he faced. Kenyon Lowen replaced Harroch and stopped all 17 shots he faced.
Dylan Esau pulled the Stars to within a goal 9:05 into the third, and Ryland McNinch tied the game with 93 seconds remaining in regulation.
Overtime settled nothing, so the game went to a shootout, and the Stars outscored the Bruins 2-1 in the penalty shot competition.
Boston Bilous made 33 saves for Estevan.
The Bruins will be back on the ice Jan. 14 when they play the Notre Dame Hounds in a neutral site game in Southey.
