The Estevan midget A Bruins have booked their ticket to the Saskatchewan Hockey Association (SHA) provincial finals.
The Bruins defeated the Swift Current Wild 20-6 in a two-game total-point semifinal series to advance to the final, where they will face the Melfort Mustangs. The Bruins beat the Wild 11-3 at Swift Current's Fairview West Arena on March 11 before heading to Affinity Place two days later where they trounced the Wild 9-3.
Sabe Holzer, head coach of the Bruins, said they didn't know what to expect coming into the second game up eight goals, but the team was prepared to play disciplined and avoid any potential transgressions by the opposition. He said the referees did a good job keeping the game under control and the Wild didn't let their emotions factor into the play.
“We gave up a goal in the first 12 seconds of the (March 11) game and basically controlled it afterwards,” said Holzer. “That was a rougher game...so it was one of those things where you wonder if that will carry over into a game like this. But it didn't happen.”
Holzer said the Bruins, who include players from the Moose Mountain Hockey League's Estevan Bruins and Estevan Tower Wolves, have been coming together nicely as a team since the SHA playoffs began. He said they haven't had a real tough test yet, beating the Yorkton Terriers 10-6 in the first round before matching up against Swift Current, but are ready for whatever awaits them from the Mustangs.
“We come to play,” he said. “We come to put in the effort. We'll be fine. I like our chances. We can play with anybody.”
