After a tough January, the Estevan PowerTech Panthers started the month of February on a considerably better note.
The midget AA team earned three of four points in a two-game set at home against the first-place Regina Capitals.
The Panthers (13-9-2) are in fourth place in the South Saskatchewan Female Hockey League after defeating the Capitals 5-3 on Saturday and tying them 2-2 on Sunday.
Estevan came out flying on Saturday at the Civic Auditorium, scoring the first four goals of the contest.
The club got two goals from Jenna Kreklewich and one from Haley Ronyk in the first period, while Jenna Grube added another less than four minutes into the second to put the Panthers on top 4-0.
The Capitals stormed back though, potting three goals less than six minutes apart later in the period. Shaya Bellemy got Regina on the board at the halfway point, then Shelby Fitzpatrick fired two quick goals to get her team back in it.
Kreklewich completed a hat trick midway through the third to give the Panthers some insurance.
Litesha Spittal backstopped the Panthers to victory.
On Sunday at Affinity Place, the Capitals found themselves trailing again, but two third-period goals pulled them into a draw.
Estevan netted two power play goals in the first 40 minutes, courtesy of Kailey McLellan and Macy Earl, to take the lead.
Kylee Bohay got Regina within a goal eight minutes into the third and Reed Boychuk tied it less than three minutes later.
Brianna Cote stopped 25 of 27 shots in the Panthers' crease.
A strong effort in Game 2 wasn't enough for the Estevan Sherritt Coal Bruins.
Facing the potent Yorkton Terriers in the second round of Saskatchewan Hockey Association peewee AA provincials, the Bruins fell 8-1, thanks largely to the series opener.
The Terriers took the first game 6-0 at Affinity Place on Saturday. The Bruins made it close the next day in Yorkton, losing 2-1.
On Sunday, the Terriers struck first on a Kishaun Gervais goal five minutes in.
Ryder Korczak gave the hosts a 2-0 lead with one minute left in the first period.
Mason Strutt scored the Bruins' lone goal, coming at 11:37 of the second. Kersey Reich and Dawson Schaff drew assists.
Bryson Garton was in goal for Estevan.
Zach McIntyre led the Terriers to the shutout victory in Game 1, scoring four goals. Troy Bryksa and Alex Moar added singles.
Justin Hertes was between the pipes for the Bruins.
The Bruins (5-11-2) are in fourth place in the South Saskatchewan Minor Hockey League with two games left. Both of those games are later this month against the Weyburn Wings.
The Estevan TS&M Bruins pushed their winning streak to four games on Saturday with the most important one of them all.
The Bruins earned a key 4-2 victory over the Melville Millionaires in a battle for third place in the south division of the Saskatchewan Bantam AA Hockey League.
The power play was a large factor, as the teams combined for five goals on 13 opportunities.
The Bruins (16-9-3) now sit two points ahead of the Millionaires, but the top two spots are out of reach with three games left.
Shae Little opened the scoring for Estevan 11 minutes into the game. The Mils got it back six minutes later on a goal by Carson Sass.
The deadlock remained until late in the second period, when Josh Skjonsby and Preston Brodziak scored barely four minutes apart for the Bruins.
Skjonsby cemented Estevan's lead with his second of the night just seven seconds into the third period. It was the only even-strength goal of the game.
Melville's Connor Baber got the hosts within two goals at the halfway point of the period.
The shots were even at 27. Ethan Veroba made 25 stops for the Bruins.
The Bruins also defeated the Regina Foxes 6-3 on Monday. Cole Fonstad led the club with a hat trick, while Brodziak, Brayden Pachal and Carson Benning also scored.
Estevan will face the Regina Monarchs tomorrow in the Queen City.
The Estevan Power Dodge Chargers split a pair of one-goal games against the South West Cyclones on the weekend at the Civic Auditorium.
The Chargers won 1-0 on Saturday and the Cyclones returned the favour on Sunday with a 2-1 victory.
The lone goal in Saturday's game came late in the first period, with Estevan's Megan LeBlanc scoring an unassisted marker with 45 seconds left.
Ashlyn Taillon picked up the shutout in goal.
Neither team had any luck on the power play, as the Cyclones went 0-for-4 and the Chargers were 0-for-3.
The second period contained all the scoring in Sunday's game. The Chargers took the lead 70 seconds into the period on a goal by Ashton Magotiaux.
The Cyclones replied with a pair of goals four minutes apart later in the period, courtesy of Jenessa Fournier and Courtney Bredahl.
The two teams combined for eight power play opportunities, with no goals.
Taillon took the loss for the Chargers.
