Third period struggles led the Estevan A&S atom tier 1 Bruins to a 6-1 loss to the Weyburn Panther Drilling Wings at Crescent Point Place on Sunday.
Derek Wilhelm, head coach of the Bruins, said the nine and 10-year-old athletes played their two best periods of the year in the first and second frames, but they seemed to lose their focus in the final 20 minutes. He said the coaching staff has been working in the early part of the Bruins season on getting the team to play with more consistency and it will come, but in their games so far they always seem to experience a lapse at some point.
“We're as skilled as any team that we've played,” said Wilhelm. “We're just struggling right now to play a full 60 minutes and once we get that figured out we're going to be in pretty good shape this year.”
Wilhelm said the team is loaded with fast skaters, but the kids sometimes forget to use their speed to their advantage. He said when they do they're a real fun squad to watch.
The loss to Weyburn brought Estevan to a 1-4 South East Minor Hockey League (SEMHL) record and 6-4 mark overall when factoring in exhibition and tournament play. The team went undefeated in a four-game home mini-tournament at Affinity Place and the Civic Auditorium on Nov. 7 and 8.
“The year has been good,” said Wilhelm. “I see the potential in our team. It goes back to if we can get 60 consistent minutes we're a tough team to play against. Potential is a big word, but hopefully we learn to play a full game and I'd say we're going to be a tough team. Nobody is going to want to play us if we do.”
Next up for the Bruins is an exhibition match against the Lumsden Lions at Avonlea before hosting the Moosomin Red Barn Ice Badgers on Dec. 12 and 13 in SEMHL action.
Wilhelm said the SEMHL season is only 16 games long, with the majority of games scheduled for after Christmas. They also have four tournaments lined up for January and February before playoffs begin in early March. He said that makes for a busy late stretch to the season, so the goal now is to fix any inconsistencies in their game in order to peak in the new year.
“It's not how you start the year, it's who is the best team at the end,” he said. “That's what we're working for.”
