The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins found out their schedule for the 2017-18 season, and the good part is the toughest part of the schedule will be done by the time the calendar hits December.
Going to the scheduling meetings, Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood said there were going to be challenges getting the dates they wanted but are generally happy with their schedule.
“Given the availability of our facility in January, we know we're going to be on the road for a long time... with the curling event coming, so we knew that was going to be a challenge,” Lewgood said. “Beyond that we're very happy with the amount of weekend game we have. I think it's the highest number of weekend games the Bruins have had in many, many years.”
There is about a 20-30 per cent increase in games from Tuesday-Wednesday nights to Friday-Saturday nights, Lewgood said.
“It allows young families to have their kids there without sacrificing sleep, rest and other activities,” he said. “I think that was a huge win for us.”
The regular season opens Sept. 15 with a home game against the Melville Millionaires and closes March 9, 2018 with again, a home game against the Millionaires.
He pointed out the tougher part of the schedule occurs in November, where the team has two four-game road trips within three weeks.
“It's nice to know you don't have a second half of the season with having that out of your way and you can focus on playing, and not logistics,” Lewgood said.
Training camp will have about three teams worth of listed and non-listed players battling it out with the intrasquad game Sept 3.
The preseason is a fast burst of four games in a short amoutn of time as the Bruins play their traditional rookie game at Notre Dame Labour Day Monday, a home game against the Manitoba Junior Hockey League's Waywaysecappo Wolverines the following night, and then a home and home against the Weyburn Red Wings on the weekend.
