Two power-play goals and 10 stops on the penalty kill helped the Estevan Apex midget AA Bruins to a 2-1 win over the Regina Vics at Affinity Place on Sunday.
“Our power play is actually clicking pretty good right now,” said Bruins captain Brady Long. “We’re moving the puck a lot, getting shots that we need to make and we’re finding the lanes that we need to find to put the puck in the net.”
The Bruins capitalized 10 seconds into their first man advantage with Jacob Chalus tapping in a pass by Dawson Schaff into the open glove side of Cole Johnston’s net 9:06 into the opening frame. Josh Skjonsby made it 2-0 by poking in the rebound of a Hunter Piche point shot 7:33 into the second period. The Vics got to within one about six minutes later on a Tristan Third goal, but could not beat Bruins goalie Ethan Veroba the rest of the way.
The 2-1 victory followed a 2-2 tie between the Bruins and Vics the previous evening at Affinity Place. Schaff notched both Estevan goals in the match with Austin Appel and Matthew Mccaw, with the game-tying marker at 3:36 remaining in the third period, replying for the Vics. Veroba and Morgan Bogdan were in net for the draw.
“We worked a lot harder,” said Bruins coach Blake Jamieson on how Sunday’s game compared to the night before. “We were moving our feet quite a bit better and our compete level was higher. So, we’re going to have to do that a lot this year.”
Jamieson said five players have returned to the team from last year’s squad that finished second in the South Saskatchewan Minor Hockey League. He said they have quite a few 15 year olds this season, so they’ll have to compete together as a team every night if they hope to be successful.
Long said the rookies are quick and each of them knows it’ll take everything they have in practice and during their games to ice a winning team. He said that work ethic is how they managed the unbeaten opening weekend and they’ll have to match it on the road this Saturday and Sunday against the Swift Current K-Motel Broncos to achieve the same results.
“First time on the road is always a tougher game,” said Long. “We’ve got a long bus ride up to Swift Current, so we’re going to have to get our legs in it early.”
