It has not been an ideal start for the CanElson Drilling Estevan Bruins.
A poor start hurt them in their home opener on Friday, as they lost 3-2 to the Melville Millionaires, one night after falling 3-1 in Melville.
"I just felt we got off to a slow start tonight. I felt we sat back and watched Melville play their game instead of playing our game. We've gotta initiate a little more and stop being so respectful of the other club," said Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood.
"What I mean is we've gotta have some courage and our guys need to understand that they're good enough to play with anybody and take the play to anybody. It's going to be a growing process before they understand how good they really are. Our young guys are suited for this league and they're going to do well here."
Lane Harbor scored the eventual winner for the Mils halfway through the second period when Bruins goalie Brett Lewchuk couldn't find the rebound of a Brennen Miller shot.
The Bruins got within a goal four minutes later. Brad Arabia's first SJHL goal was one to remember, as he sniped a shot off the far post and in. However, that was the end of the scoring.
"It's nice. I'm glad I got it in the second game. It brings confidence to me, so now I just look forward. I don't have to worry about living up to (the expectations) of getting high offence. It's a lot of stress, basically," Arabia said.
Melville had gotten out to a 2-0 lead, beginning with the first goal in Affinity Place this season, a rebound tapped in by Landon Farrell four minutes in.
Their second goal was scored by defenceman Matthew Carr early in the second, as his shot hit Lewchuk and fluttered over him into the goal.
"I thought Lewy did his share. He'd like to have that second one back, I'm sure, but if a goalie makes one mistake in a night, but is solid the rest of the night, that's a good night's work. He was as good as anyone and he did his share," said Lewgood.
The Bruins made it 2-1 when Ryan Duret tipped a point shot by Josh Rieger that bamboozled Mils starter Jon Manlow.
Although the Bruins outshot the Mils 31-29, Lewgood said they didn't get enough offensive pressure early on.
"I thought we started slowly and I think as the game went on, as we maybe tasted a little blood in the second period, we started generating more as the game went on, but too little, too late. When you're taking chances to make plays, there's often turnovers in the neutral zone and things like that that go against you. We didn't create enough, obviously."
Lewgood said he saw something encouraging from the so-called fourth line.
"I was really impressed with the resiliency tonight of the (Chase) McKersie, Arabia and Ryan Duret line. They had a couple struggles and some bad breaks early. Their leash was getting shorter and shorter as the game got on. Then they turned it around real quick with two goals in a matter of two shifts, and then they maintained pressure throughout the game."
Arabia said the SJHL is a different experience than playing in the Superior International Junior Hockey League back home.
"We got to see them (Thursday) and I knew what the speed was like. It's definitely different from the junior back in Thunder Bay. It's a different game. You gotta make sure you have your head on a swivel and you skate with them every night.
"We didn't play a full game. We played a good two periods. but the first killed us. They're a big team, they play hard, they play aggressive. The goalie played well too. We tried to get a lot of shots on him. They just came out the better team today. We gotta make sure we play our full game and not take a period off."
Lewgood said several rookies have stood out to him, including defenceman Rieger, who "looks like a veteran player."
He added local defenceman Mason Benning "really settled in and had more of a solid game. I thought he was nervous (Thursday) in Melville, but tonight he played with some poise.
"Levi Barnstable's going to be an unsung hero for our team. This guy just doesn't make mistakes. He doesn't jump off the page at you or off the sheet. He doesn't do anything flashy, so maybe he's not noticed, but he's a guy who goes out and does his job every single shift."
On Thursday, meanwhile, Melville scored three goals in the second period en route to victory.
Mils defenceman Kirk Bear and Bruins captain Nolan Nicholas exchanged goals 1:35 apart early in the second. But the Mils added goals from Farrell and Miller later in the period to take the lead for good.
The shots were 33-30 for Estevan.
The Bruins were slated to host the Weyburn Red Wings last night. They head up north this weekend, visiting the Flin Flon Bombers on Friday and the La Ronge Ice Wolves on Saturday.
Lewgood said injured defenceman Zach Douglas, who is recovering from a broken collarbone, is "real close" to returning, but didn't know if he would play this weekend.
