The CanElson Drilling Estevan Bruins came out of the pre-season with a 4-2 win over the Minot Minotauros Saturday at Affinity Place in a penalty filled game that featured outstanding saves from goaltender Tyler Fuhr and hard hits by players from both benches.
“The team came together and battled hard,” said Bruins forward Lynnden Pastachak, who lined up with Keegan Allison and newcomer Braden Oleksyn during the game. “We knew it was going to be a physical game and we knew we were going to have to bring that too. We came out battling and won every battle that we could.”
An even first period resulted in a 10-9 shot advantage for Minot, but no goals on the board for either team. Bruins veteran defenceman Zach Douglas changed that on a power play 1:57 into the second period when he delivered a shot from the blue line that made its way past Minot goaltender Jon Flakne.
Douglas factored in on Estevan's second goal of the period at the 13:02 mark when he unloaded a shot from the point that was tipped over Flakne's blocker and into the top half of the net by Bruins forward Darcy DeRoose, who was standing at the edge of the crease. Minot got that one back a little over three minutes later when Minotauros forward Zach Bross slammed a shot past Fuhr to make the score 2-1 Bruins heading into the third.
With the shots 31-23 in favour of Minot and 8:09 remaining, Bruins forward Logan Froberg found the back of the net after skating down the wing and unleashing a wrist shot that went off the post and into the top corner. After the goal, the emotions boiled over with a tilt between Levi Barnstable and Minotauros' Austin Martinsen at the 12:35 mark, which was followed by a scrap between Bruins defenceman Josh Rieger and Quinn Fuchs seventy seconds later. A Minot goal by Tyler Jeanson with two-and-a-half minutes left pulled them to within two, but that would be all they could get past Fuhr who made 34 saves on the night.
“That (game) was more indicative of what you see in a regular season SJHL game, probably even the second half of the year on average, than we've seen in the two previous exhibition games,” said Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood. “I really liked the level tonight. I thought it was a high tempo hockey game.”
Minotauros head coach Marty Murray said the game was hard fought, but sloppy at times as most exhibition games usually are. He said both teams played hard nonetheless and he's happy his team made the trip up to Estevan for the tournament again this year.
“It gives us somebody other than Bismark to play, which we play plenty of times during the season,” said Murray, noting they beat the Kindersley Klippers 5-4 Friday in their first game of the tournament. “Some of our kids come up and they have no idea what to expect and I think both years we've come up here it's been a real positive experience and a learning experience for our guys.”
Estevan's first game of the tournament was a chippy 4-1 loss to Kindersley on Thursday at Affinity Place. Lewgood said the Bruins didn't play very well as a team in the loss, which was due in part to the coaching staff not shortening the bench for the sake of evaluating a few players.
“I like that they stick up for each other,” he said. “That side was okay, but I thought we were undisciplined, acted on things that didn't need to be responded to and retaliated where we didn't need to. We got some emotional guys on this team and we knew we're going to have that a little bit. We just got to make sure it doesn't get carried away and some of that aggressive play comes on our terms and not the terms of the other team.”
Klippers head coach Geoff Grimwood said neither coach was looking for their team to get involved in the chippy play, but the game was still a good test for his team. He said they were able to get some of their veteran players into the game for the first time this pre-season and continue evaluating the talent on their roster.
“It's really important as a league to try to do these types of events,” said Grimwood. “My hats off to the Estevan Bruins and Chris Lewgood for organizing it. I'd like to see these things grow into four, five or six teams and you can have a bit of a showcase even though it's not regular season. It's a good idea. It gives us a chance to get on the road. It gives us a chance to play some teams that we normally don't get to play.”
Pastachak said the tournament also gave his line a chance to gel before their regular season starts this Thursday and Friday with away and home dates against the Melville Millionaires. He said they play together in practice, but game action enables them to build on their chemistry.
“It takes these exhibition games for guys to get to know each other,” said Pastachak. “I know where they are on the ice, know their habits and everything like that. The last game against Kindersley it was my first game with my two new line mates and (we) felt a little more comfortable tonight. Even one game difference and you feel more comfortable.”
