Estevan's biggest minor hockey star took his game to new heights on Saturday.
In a showcase of the best bantam players in Saskatchewan, Cole Fonstad scored four goals and an assist to lead the Estevan TS&M Bruins to a 5-4 win over the undefeated Yorkton Terriers.
Yorkton owned a 12-0 record before the loss.
The game pitted Fonstad, who is one of Saskatchewan's top prospects for this year's Western Hockey League draft, against fellow prospects Carson Miller, Kaeden Taphorn and Keenan Taphorn.
"It's probably the best game I've ever seen him play. He was outstanding. He played up to his potential in all three zones of the rink," head coach Tom Copeland said of Fonstad.
"When he plays that kind of hockey, you see the rest of the team feed off that. He does take those challenges (against other top players) personally. He scored some beauties. Miller and the two Taphorn boys (also) played very, very well. It was back and forth all game."
The contest was played in Arcola and was a home game for the Bruins.
It was quite a bounce back for the Bruins after losing 6-0 to the Prairie Storm in White City on Friday night.
"We didn't play particularly well Friday, that's for sure. It's just a tale of two teams, I guess," said Copeland. (On Saturday), they chose to play really strong, sound defensive hockey and they were very explosive in transition. It was a fun game to watch, it was quick, we got good goaltending. We got some of the matchups we liked, since it was a home game. I was very happy with the way they played. We chose to play, for lack of a better term, real hockey. We were willing to play in the hard areas, we scored some dirty goals, we played well on the penalty kill."
The teams traded goals in the first period, with Fonstad opening the scoring halfway through, followed by a Kaleb Bulych goal late in the frame.
The Bruins took the lead 22 seconds into the middle period on another Fonstad goal.
However, the Terriers snarled back with three straight goals, including one by Kaeden Taphorn 23 seconds later.
Keenan Taphorn and Miller then scored to put Yorkton ahead 4-2.
Copeland said no one panicked when the Bruins went down by two goals.
"It was a little surprising. We haven't necessarily had to play a comeback game, especially against a team like Yorkton. I wouldn't say it's shocking. They just (picked) away at it. When it was 4-2, there wasn't that overwhelming feeling that we're done."
Fonstad completed a hat trick with a power play goal late in the period.
His fourth of the night came less than eight minutes into the third, tying the game.
"Our game lends quite well to playing against them. They seem to take it personally when they play us. As soon as we scored that third goal, and then the fourth, you could feel that panic from them. For the most part, they were really on their heels after that. It just kinda happened," Copeland said.
Ryder Pierson scored the game winner on a power play with four minutes remaining.
Copeland noted that while they didn't score, it was "a really good game" for the team's second line.
He said Hayden Cutler and Colton Schell each had their best game of the season, and that Mason Strutt also played well.
Copeland added that it was a fun experience playing in Arcola.
"The rink was loud and the place was just alive. I think the kids had a lot of fun playing there.
"It was good hockey and our kids are capable of playing that way. What we're trying to tell them is winning is an expectation for them. They're good enough and they're more than capable of it, now it's up to them to believe it."
On Friday, the Storm took a 2-0 lead after the first period on a shorthanded goal by Aidan McNabb and a power play marker by Colum McGauley.
After a scoreless second period, controversy struck early in the third.
"It's a little sour grapes, but we scored. We flat out buried one right in the back of the net. The ref called it back and it all went downhill from there. I got kicked out. That would have made it 2-1."
Copeland said the officials simply didn't see the goal, scored by Strutt.
The Storm exploded for four goals in the third period. Jake Tremblay scored twice, while Kalem Nohnychuk and Austen Flaman added singles.
"We weren't generating a lot of scoring chances. Prairie Storm is a very sound defensive club. They've got wonderful defencemen," Copeland said.
The Bruins will play at a tournament in Prince Albert this weekend. Their next regular season game is Dec. 13 when they host the Saskatoon Stallions.
