It’s been 24 days since the CanElson Drilling Estevan Bruins were eliminated from the SJHL playoffs, but that doesn’t mean the team has sat idle as it waits for the Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup (WCC) to begin in Estevan on April 30.
Chris Lewgood, head coach and general manager of the Bruins, said the team took a long two-week break after their final game against the Nipawin Hawks in the SJHL quarter-finals in order to give the players time to rest, relax and heal. The Bruins headed back onto the Affinity Place ice for practice on April 11 with a focus on consistently playing with a high intensity level in order to get ready for their second playoff season.
“On ice we’ve got some scrimmages,” said Lewgood. “We’re going to call on some of our higher end prospects to join the team and we’ll split them into two and compete in a game format. Beyond that what we’re going to do is some of our morning skates we’ll split the team in half and we’ll work as separate groups and prepare to face each other simulating a series. It’ll be an opportunity for us to work as smaller groups and sometimes the communication is a little better in smaller groups.”
Lewgood said there are pros and cons to having an extended break before the Western Canada Cup begins compared to the BCHL, AJHL, MJHL and SJHL champions who they’ll be competing against at the tournament and who also would have played almost right up until April 30. He said while they may not have had the advantage of playing high-level hockey over the past month, they will be fully healthy, and the goal is to be the fittest, strongest and healthiest team at the WCC no matter who makes it in.
“We’ll focus on our game for now,” he said. “That’s the key. You focus on the things that we’re going to be doing no matter who our opponent is and try and be the best we can at those things and improve everyday and push ourselves to get better.”
As of Tuesday morning, the West Kelowna Warriors were leading the Chilliwack Chiefs 2-1 in the BCHL finals with Game 4 scheduled for Tuesday night in West Kelowna. The Warriors finished third in the BCHL during the regular season posting a 38-17-2-1 record, while the Chiefs (38-13-4-3) came in second.
The Steinbach Pistons (45-10-5) warded off elimination on Sunday night against the Portage Terriers (52-6-2) in the MJHL finals with a 6-2 victory. The loss marked the first playoff defeat for the Terriers in two years. Game 5 was scheduled for Tuesday night in Portage.
The Spruce Grove Saints (49-7-4) are looking to advance to their second WCC in consecutive years with an AJHL finals win over the Brooks Bandits (49-9-2), but the Bandits currently hold a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 was scheduled for Tuesday in Brooks.
The SJHL’s Melfort Mustangs (39-14-3-2) would also advance to their second WCC in a row, but the Flin Flon Bombers (34-20-0-4) and goaltender Zac Robidoux, who played with the Terriers last season, are standing in their way. The SJHL finals were tied at 1-1 with Game 3 set for Tuesday night at Flin Flon’s Whitney Forum.
Josh Rieger, who has manned the blue line for the Bruins the past two seasons, said everyone in the room has been keeping track of what is going on in the other leagues through keeping an eye on each of their websites. He said having a second chance at winning a championship is something new for everyone on the team, but they’ve been getting back into the flow of things over the past few weeks in practice and will be ready come April 30.
“Those other teams are going to come in tired and sore,” said Rieger. “They might be a little sick. I mean there is a big difference between getting hit every night and just skating every night, so I think (the rest) is going to benefit us.”
