The Estevan Apex Bruins kicked off their season with a win and a tie in the South Saskatchewan Minor Hockey League on the weekend.
The midget AA squad lost 5-3 to the Melville Millionaires on Saturday and tied the Yorkton Terriers 4-4 on Sunday, both games being played on the road.
On Saturday, the Bruins led after the first and second period but allowed Melville to score four in the third.
Estevan got on the board quickly, with Tyson Price scoring the team's first goal of the year only 69 seconds into the game on an unassisted marker.
The Bruins added to their lead at the 14:14 mark, with Kaelan Holt lighting the lamp. Price had the only helper on the goal.
Melville struck less than two minutes later though, with Brett Harasymuk notching his first of two in the game.
The Bruins scored the only goal of the middle frame when captain Steven Henderson beat Melville goalie Benji Taypotat. Jason Hengen and Tyler Hengen assisted on the goal.
Estevan took a 3-1 lead to the third period, but the Millionaires quickly stormed back, scoring three goals in less than three minutes early in the period.
Harasymuk scored his second at 2:08 to draw Melville within one, and 39 seconds later Tanner Bokor netted a power play goal to tie the game.
Not long after that, at the 4:50 mark, Taylor Fiesel scored another power-play marker.
Kyler Ulmer added an insurance goal for Melville at the 12:21 mark.
The game was marred by a parade to the penalty box, as the Bruins were handed out 48 minutes in penalties and Melville was assessed 53.
Tanner Tytlandsvik took the loss in goal for Estevan.
On Sunday, meanwhile, a late goal by the Terriers helped them pull out a tie.
The Bruins scored first, courtesy of a Preston Hutt goal 79 seconds into the first period. Tanner Jeannot picked up an assist.
Yorkton tied it six minutes later on a goal by Adam McCannell
The Terriers then took the lead just before the intermission, with Tristan Mundt beating Bruins starter Levi Eiteneier with 32 seconds left.
The Bruins didn't take long to respond in the second period, with Mason Benning tying it up on a power play goal at 3:29. Henderson picked up an assist.
Another power-play marker eight minutes later by Henderson gave Estevan the lead.
The Terriers would knot the score again though, with McCannell netting his second of the game on the power play at the 14:22 mark.
The Bruins regained the lead about four minutes into the third when Price scored yet another power play goal. Jason Hengen picked up a helper.
Just when it looked like the Apex Bruins would hold on for the win, Yorkton's Zack Korchinski scored with 63 seconds left in regulation to secure the tie for the hosts.
Penalties were a factor again, as the Bruins went 3-for-13 on the power play and Yorkton went 1-for-7.
The Bruins' home opener is on Saturday against Melville. Game time is 7:45 p.m. at Spectra Place.
