The Estevan TS&M Bruins got off to a solid start with their Saskatchewan Bantam AA Hockey League game Sunday against the Saskatoon Generals.
Everything else evaporated as the Bruins scored first but lost 4-1.
Bruins head coach Tom Copeland wasn't mincing words after the game in which his team was outshot 25-3 in the second period: a period that has been a rough one for the team already this season.
“Young players that haven't played in the league before just not understanding what it takes to play in the league,” he said. “(They're) not understanding that you have to get pucks deep from the redline or else you bury your own defenceman. It's the turnovers at the blueline. We talk about it a lot, the teams that win the blueline battles are the teams that win the game.”
The Bruins' Kieran Stewart opened the scoring with a deflected shot that went along the ice in behind Generals goaltender Luke Saunders. It was one of few mistakes the Generals made in the game.
In the second, the Generals' James Mann scored on a breakaway just as a Saskatoon penalty ended at 4:08 of the second, and about a minute later, Berg Weber's shot found a way behind Estevan goaltender Zane Winter.
The Generals took advantage of their power play chances, many of which resulted from the Bruins' retaliation, and the Bruins gave them ample opportunity to win.
“The only reason to retaliate is that somebody hurt your feelings, so you've got to get mentally tough,” Copeland said. “If you can't be mentally tougher than that, this game is going to take it to you.”
The Generals added two more in the third as the Bruins collapsed. Winter stood strong but even he wasn't able to withstand the barrage fired at him by Saskatoon.
“He gave us every chance we needed to win the hockey game,” said Copeland. “They've just got to show up ready.”
It's hoped experiences like Sunday will help the team learn and grow from the loss.
“They've got to figure it out and I'm not sure they are yet,” Copeland said. “They've got to start to learn and we've got to take it to other teams instead of just sitting around and waiting for it to come to us.”
Also, Nathan Wagstaff was suspended for two games after getting a major penalty for kneeing in the last ten minutes of the game Sunday. The Bruins have a busy schedule this weekend with three games. Friday, they play in Swift Current, Saturday afternoon in Regina and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Affinity Place against the Prairie Storm.
