The first regular season game in Eclipse Downhole Solutions Estevan U18 AAA Bears history didn’t go as head coach and general manager Jeff Smith wanted, but he still found some positives.
The Bears lost 9-1 to the host Regina Pat Canadians Sunday afternoon. Carson Birnie of Arcola had the Bears lone goal, and it was significant, as it was the first regular season goal in franchise history.
Birnie stole the puck from a Regina defender and snapped a shot past Regina goaltender Drayden Ramage with 2:09 to play in the first period.
“We had a few chances before that, too, so you could really sense that we were pushing for it, so it was really good to get that franchise’s first goal in the first game,” said Smith.
It pulled Estevan to within a goal at that point, but the Pat Canadians scored 11 seconds later to restore the two-goal advantage, and added four in the second and two in the third.
Smith said Regina looks to be the best team in the south, and provided the Bears with a measuring stick of where they need to be to win.
“We’re nowhere close to where we need to be, but it’s tough with the practice schedule that we have and everything else. From training camp to practice to our exhibition games until now, even though it was a blowout tonight, we’ve made leaps and bounds of progress,” said Smith.
There were positives besides Birnie’s goal. They had a good forecheck and they spent some time in the Pat Canadians zone. They would have a couple of good shifts, but then struggle for a couple of shifts.
“That’s something that we’re going to have to correct as a team. We have a really young team, so this will be a really good learning curve for our team,” said Smith.
Goaltender Jackson Miller had a great game in net, even though he surrendered eight of the nine goals; Kelton Pyne came in briefly in the second and allowed a goal.
“It would have been a 15-1 or 16-1 game if Jackson did not play as well as he did,” said Smith.
The Bears wanted to get a game against Regina early on, so that the kids could see what it takes to be a strong team.
Smith said there was a special feeling associated with the first game.
“The speech before was just saying ‘Guys, there’s not many players that get to play in the team’s very first game, so it was a special moment for all 20 guys on the team,” said Smith.
The Bears will be back on the ice Nov. 6 when they visit the Swift Current Legionnaires. Then they will host the Legionaires the following day at 1 p.m. for the first regular season home game in Bears history.
