The Apex Bruins fell behind early in their first round playoff series but the team made up for lost time with a sterling pair of home games against the Swift Current Broncos.
The Bruins (22-12-2-0) lost both South Saskatchewan Minor Hockey League midget AA division first round playoff games Tuesday and Wednesday at Swift Current (21-9-4-2) but won 3-1 Friday and 5-2 Saturday at Affinity Place to force a fifth and deciding game, which took place Tuesday at Swift Current. The score for Tuesday’s game was unavailable at press time.
“We knew we had to step it up and bring our game,” said Bruins forward Joey Meredith, whose two goals Saturday paced the team. “We came out hard and played as a team and got pucks to the net.”
Saturday’s game saw a tying goal from Meredith for the ages. A shot of his from the point went high in the air before landing on Swift Current goalkeeper Brad Nyen and dropping into the net.
“I saw it go up, and I was watching it,” said Meredith. “I thought it was going to land behind the net and all of a sudden it was in the net.”
Few have seen a goal like Meredith’s first of the game.
“Every once in a while there’s always a wonky bounce you see in hockey,” said Bruins head coach Robin Ulrich. “We got a couple of them this weekend in our own barn and we went on the road there and they had a couple of bounces go their way… I think in the game of hockey everything always ends up balancing out.”
The second period forced the Bruins to try to come back after going down 2-0. They did so by applying constant pressure on the Broncos, turning the table on the visitors.
“I don’t think our first (period) was terrible,” said Ulrich. “I think our first half was good and they scored and put us a little bit on our heels.”
Ulrich said the panic started to happen “just a wee little bit” and then the push happened in the second period.
“Kudos to the boys,” she said. “We got down 2-0 and that didn’t change too much. They found a way to battle back.”
Saturday, Jaiden (JD) Gervais, Zach Ashworth and Daymon Wanner also scored for the Bruins, while Bryson Garton stopped 18 of 20 shots in the net.
Friday, JD Gervais, Dawson Schaff and Kyler Gervais each scored single goals while Garton stopped 44 of 45 Swift Current shots.
“I think we gave them a lot of secondary shots,” Ulrich said. “We just didn’t do a good job of boxing out once the puck did get to the net and we maybe we were a bit passive in backing off. I think if you can be aggressive and stop chances in the netural zone before they develop that stops a lot of shots before they happen.”
Last Tuesday’s goalscorer was Cale Adams, while Garton stopped 35 shots in the Bruins net. Wednesday, Terran Holzer and Triston Sorenson scored for the Bruins, with Garton stopped 25 shots in the loss.
The Bruins were going to have to put game four behind them quickly to refocus on the fifth game.
“We’re focusing on having a good practice and getting ready for the game,” said Meredith.
