The sports scene in southeast Saskatchewan started like any other in 2020, with plenty happening in the first two months. Then COVID-19 hit, scuttling many events and changing others. Still, there were plenty of highlights this year. Here’s a look back at the many happenings.
January:
-The Estevan Bruins returned to the ice after the Christmas break by winning their first five games. It would be one of three five-game winning streaks that the Bruins would have in the post-Christmas portion of the schedule.
-The Estevan novice Canucks were the class of the Weyburn Novice Super Tournament Jan. 4 and 5. Estevan went 4-0 in the tournament, and outscored their opponents 42-8.
-The Estevan Curling Club announced on Jan. 3 that it would host the 2021 CurlSask Viterra Scotties Tournament of Hearts provincial women’s curling competition and the SaskTel Tankard men’s provincial tournament at Affinity Place. The events were to happen back-to-back from Jan. 29-Feb. 7, and bring 12 women’s and 12 men’s teams to Estevan. It was announced on Dec. 2 that the events would not be happening in Estevan due to the restrictions associated with COVID-19.
-The Estevan Minor Hockey Association’s (EMHA) annual atom tournament attracted 12 teams to the Estevan area from Jan. 10-12. The Estevan Kings won the A event consolation final with a 3-2 victory over the Assiniboia Rebels. The other two Estevan teams played in the C event final, with the Estevan Predators blanking the Estevan Leafs 3-0.
-Former Estevan resident Dawn Bird (née Hirsch) was part of the Peace Country Canadians entry that won women's hockey gold at the 2020 Winter World Masters Games in Austria on Jan. 12. Bird, who now resides in Fort St. John, B.C., joined a team of athletes from the Peace River region in northeast B.C. and northwest Alberta. Peace Country defeated Austria’s EC Icemice Telfs – Tiroler Madln 5-2 in the gold medal game. Bird started playing hockey when she was living in the Estevan area.
-The Estevan midget A Bruins opened their 2020 season by winning a tournament in Grand Forks, N.D. Estevan went 3-0-1 in the tournament, and defeated Watford City 4-3 in the final.
-The Estevan Sharks water polo program hosted a three-division tournament at the RM of Estevan Aquatic Centre on Jan. 19. Teams from Regina and Weyburn came to compete with Estevan in the atom girls, atom boys and mini age divisions, and games were held throughout the day.
-The Estevan Eclipse Downhole Solutions U18 AAA Bears announced on Jan. 21 that they had turned to a familiar face in the community to be their first head coach and general manager. Jeff Smith, who had been an associate coach with the Estevan Bruins since January 2018, was hired for the job. He officially joined the Bears once the Bruins season was over. Smith won a Memorial Cup with the Red Deer Rebels, and played professional hockey in North America and Europe.
-Midale’s Keely Shaw finished fourth in the individual pursuit at the Para-Cycling Track World Championships in Milton, Ont., in late January. She qualified in third spot and raced for a bronze medal. Shaw missed competing for the gold medal by seventh-tenths of a second. Shaw broke her Canadian record by 3 1/2 seconds while in Milton. She would later win the SaskSport Female Athlete of the Year Award. Shaw hopes to represent Canada at the upcoming Paralympic Summer Games in Tokyo.
-Fifteen members of the Estevan Mermaids synchronized swim club competed at the Sandra Roberts national stream provincial championship at the Lawson Aquatic Centre in Regina on Nov. 25 and 26.
-The Rae Ann Williamson rink came up just one win short of the playoffs at the Viterra Scotties Tournament of Hearts provincial women’s curling championship in Melville on Jan. 22-26. The Williamson rink, which also boasted third Alexandra Meyer, second Chantel Martin, lead Amanda Kuzyk and coach Darcey Huyghebaert, had a 3-3 record at the tournament, and defeated some of the top teams in the province. Shalon Fleming’s entry, which also featured third Candace Newkirk, second Sherrilee Orsted, lead Jasmine Kerr and coach Bob Doerr, went 1-3.
-Oxbow’s Chaelynn Kitz’s was the lead on the Sherry Anderson rink that reached the final at the Scotties, and she won the Marj Mitchell Sportsmanship Award at the tournament. Mitchell hailed from the Glen Ewen area, and in 1980, skipped the first Canadian entry to win gold at the women’s world curling championships.
-The Redvers Rockets clinched first place in the Big Six Hockey League’s regular season standings and finished the season with a 17-1 record. The Rockets won 16 straight games, with most wins coming in convincing fashion. Carnduff was second at 14-2-2.
-Chase Gedak, a forward with the Estevan Apex U18 AA Bruins, was praising the care he received after he suffered a severe cut from a skate blade during a home game on Jan. 25 against the Swift Current Broncos. Gedak suffered a wrist injury that included some cut tendons. The injury required about three hours of surgery in Regina. He thanked the quick response of team trainer Richard Winton and Bruins trainer Dylan Lafrentz and the staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital and the hospital in Regina.
-The Estevan Motor Speedway announced on Jan. 30 it would host a weekend doubleheader July 11 and 12 to open the Dakota Classic Modified Tour. The speedway has hosted double-headers for the tour in the past, but not on a weekend. Also, it was to be the first time the tour has opened with back-to-back races at the same track on a weekend. The speedway called it the biggest event in their history, but it was later cancelled due to COVID.
February:
-The Estevan Minor Hockey Association hosted its annual peewee house tournament from Jan. 31-Feb. 2. Sixteen teams from all across the southern Saskatchewan entered. The Estevan PTW Panthers won the B final over the Prairie Storm Lightning, while the Estevan McGillicky Thunder won the B-side bronze medal game over the Estevan Tower Wolves.
-The Estevan novice Golden Knights hockey team won the Midale Mustangs tournament in early February. Estevan went 5-0 during the tournament, defeating the Weyburn Coyotes 9-5 in the final.
-The Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) Elecs junior boys basketball team had one of their strongest showings of the season during their annual home tournament Feb. 7 and 8. The Elecs went 2-1 on the weekend, defeating the Fillmore Falcons and the Moose Jaw Peacock Toilers, but losing to the Moose Jaw Vanier Vikings.
-Outram’s Marci LeBlanc found a great way to put the exclamation mark on her scoring title in the Saskatchewan Female Hockey League’s midget AA division.
LeBlanc had a hat trick in the South East Aaron Well Servicing midget AA Goldwings 5-2 victory over the Northeast Aces at the Harry O Memorial Arena in Midale. LeBlanc, who was in her final season of minor hockey, finished with 40 points, and led the league in goals with 22.
-The Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs cheer team remained the Best of the West, as they took top spot in the intermediate Grade 9-12 scholastic division, and they also earned the overall highest mark in the scholastic division for a cheer and dance competition Feb. 8 in Regina. It was the fourth straight year ECS has won their division at Best of the West. The Elecs finished with a score of 90.20 points, 2.5 more than Regina’s Thom Collegiate Trojans.
-The Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) Elecs senior boys and girls basketball teams came up just short in the annual McLeod Series games with the Weyburn Comprehensive School Eagles. Each team won twice in the series, so it came down to point different, which Weyburn won 314-312. The Elecs senior girls won both of their games with Weyburn, but the senior boys dropped both games.
-The Estevan Bruins clinched a playoff spot with a 5-4 overtime victory over the Flin Flon Bombers on Feb. 21. Estevan led the game 4-1 in the third period, but Flin Flon rallied to tie the game. Isaiah Thomas scored midway through the overtime period to lift the Bruins to victory.
-Two members of the Estevan Bruins were announced as finalists for the SJHL awards. Devan Harrison was named as the Viterra Division’s nominee for the SJHL’s best defenceman, and forward Griffin Asham-Moroz is the division’s finalist for the top rookie.
-Numerous local youth football players were part of the Sask. Selects football program that travelled to San Antonio, Texas, for the annual Pigskin Classic football tournament in February, and one local player was part of a team that won it all.
Running back Cooper Pukas was on the 10-and-under (10U) team that took top spot for the second consecutive year. Two other teams with local content played in tournament finals, and three players from the Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs were part of the Selects varsity team.
-The Estevan Bruins revamped their biggest fundraiser of the year into a medieval feast, and it proved to be a hit. The event attracted about 350 people, who enjoyed a large meal, auctions and entertainment from comedy duo Don’t Mind Us. Traditionally the Bruins held a Sportsman’s Dinner for a fundraiser.
-The Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs mixed curling team went 1-2 at regionals in Whitewood. Estevan defeated Balgonie’s Greenal High School, but they lost to Regina’s LeBoldus High School and O’Neill High School.
-The Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) Elecs senior girls basketball team claimed bronze in 10th Victor Elias Memorial Shoot for a Cure Invitational basketball tournament that was held at the school’s gymnasium Feb. 28-29. Not only was it a chance for the Elecs to showcase their abilities, but the tournament is a fundraiser for the fight against cancer. Prior to the opening game between ECS and the Lumsden Angels, the previous years' tournaments beneficiaries or their relatives were invited to come out to participate. All proceeds from the tournament were directed to Bill Mann and his cancer fight. The Elecs defeated Weyburn 74-67 in the bronze medal game.
March:
-Members of the Estevan Mermaids artistic swimming club travelled to Saskatoon on Feb. 29 and March 1 for the Diane Lemon Invitational Figure and Routine Meet. Fourteen local athletes attended.
-Two youth members with Estevan Bowl came home with provincial championships at the Youth Bowling Council’s (YBC) 10-pin provincial championship at Eastview Bowl in Saskatoon on March 1. Danyck Belanger took top spot in the junior boys singles event and Mariah Pho finished first in the senior girls singles competition.
-Estevan’s Wyatt Haux was part of the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Trojans team that won the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference basketball championship in early March. Haux, who plays centre and shooting guard on the team, has been a part of the last two championships. Nationals were cancelled due to COVID-19.
-Sanctions imposed by the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation resulted in the cancellation of one of the top youth sporting events in the province – the Hoopla provincial high school basketball tournament. The announcement was made March 11.
-The COVID-19 pandemic brought a sudden end to the local winter sports season on March 12. The Estevan Bruins were in the midst of their SJHL quarter-final series with the Melfort Mustangs; Melfort was up 3-1 in the best-of-seven battle. The Bruins were en route to Melfort on March 12 for Game 5 when they found out the game had been postponed; the following day, Hockey Canada cancelled all hockey league seasons.
The Big Six Hockey League was also called off, with Redvers and Carnduff ready to play in the final.
The Estevan Curling Club was hosting the master men’s and women’s curling provincials. Teams were on the ice for the third draw of the event when they learned the event had been shelved. It was cancelled the following day.
The Estevan Strippers were forced to cancel their annual Molson Spring Bust tournament slated for early April. The tournament is the largest recreation hockey tournament in the province, and boasts 40 teams. Cabarets served as big fundraisers for a number of community projects.
-The Estevan Sharks water polo club wrapped up their season with their first-ever awards night March 13 at the Beefeater Plaza. The Sharks, who have teams in several different age groups, handed out awards in a variety of categories.
The awards were handed out after provincials were cancelled due to concerns over the COVID-19 virus. The awards night was scheduled before provincials were called off.
-Just days after their season ended, the Bruins handed out their year-end awards.
Alameda’s Jayden Davis was the big winner, as he took home five awards, including the regular season MVP and the top scorer honours, while goaltender Keenan Rancier was selected as the playoff MVP. Davis would later commit to play hockey for the University of Regina Cougars.
-Estevan Bruins second-year defenceman Kade McMillen, who hails from Carievale, was named the winner of the RBC Community Ambassador Award for the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). He earned $1,000 to donate to the South East Cornerstone Public School Division. He has been heavily involved in the community throughout his time with the Bruins.
-A talented softball player from Estevan committed to play for the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) Trojans. Taylor Haux, who largely plays third base and catcher, will play for the Trojans while studying nursing at Mount Royal University in Calgary. They play against programs in Alberta, as well as the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan.
-Sarah Dacuycuy, who played basketball at the Estevan Comprehensive School, committed to play at Lakeland College at Lloydminster in September. Dacuycuy was sold on the school after going to Lloydminster, touring the school and playing side by side with the school’s Rustlers program.
April:
-A former captain of the Estevan Bruins won a prestigious award in the U.S. Defenceman Nolan Nicholas, who played four seasons with the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Seawolves, was selected as the 2019-20 Senior CLASS Award winner for NCAA Division 1 men’s hockey. The award, chosen by a nationwide vote of Division 1 men’s hockey coaches, national hockey media and fans, is given annually to an outstanding senior student-athlete.
-The Estevan Bruins announced on April 15 that they had relieved Chris Lewgood of his duties as the team’s head coach and general manager. Lewgood, who had held the role since the spring of 2013, enjoyed considerable success at the helm of the team, guiding them to the league final in 2018 and the semifinals in 2017 and 2019. But the club felt it was time to move in a different direction amid concern with the team’s finances.
-The provincial government announced details of its Reopen Saskatchewan Plan on April 23, and as part of it, golf courses were given the green light to open on May 15. The move was greeted by the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club and the Hidden Valley Golf and RV Resort, despite the restrictions that would be in place. Some of those restrictions were eased before the season began.
May:
-The Estevan Eclipse Downhole Solutions U18 AAA Bears hockey club announced May 1 the first 12 recruits for their inaugural season. Some of those players already had experience at the U18 (formerly known as midget) level, while others were in U15 (bantam) leagues last season. The pandemic prevented the Bears from having a spring camp, but they were still pleased with the talent they brought in.
-The sanctioned summer speed swimming meets in Saskatchewan were cancelled on May 2 following an online meeting. The Estevan Golden Eels Swim Club has been the dominant program in Saskatchewan for most of the decade, winning the last five provincial titles.
-The Estevan Bruins announced on May 6 they had hired Jason Tatarnic as the new head coach and general manager. Tatarnic has compiled a 470-172-14-16 record, primarily with the Woodstock Slammers of the Maritime Hockey League and the Chilliwack Chiefs of the B.C. Hockey League. With Tatarnic serving as the head coach, the Slammers reached the 2012 national final, back when it was known as the RBC Cup, and they won league titles 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012. With the Chiefs, they reached the league final in 2016 and 2017, and he assembled the Chiefs team that won the national title in 2018.
-Golf season opened on May 15, just in time for the Victoria Day long weekend. Courses were busy on the long weekend thanks to the nice weather, and remained busy throughout the year, as golfers were eager to get out and enjoy an activity that was viewed as COVID-friendly.
-Local sports fans and friends Layne Wolos, Dustin Wilson, Marcus Friess and Jeff Pratt launched The Cheap Seats podcast in May, a weekly one-hour show that covers a variety of sports topics with insight, banter and quick wit. The podcast became popular in the community, picked up a number of sponsors and offered giveaways.
-The Estevan Motor Speedway opened up to drivers May 23 for its annual Test and Tune practice session. The speedway held three different two-hour practices. Each driver was allowed to bring a pit crew member.
June:
-The Regina Thunder junior football team announced on June 1 that two students graduating from the Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) Elecs – wide receiver Nigel Mack and linebacker Brennen Stubel – would be joining their team for the 2020 season. Also added to the team was veteran Canadian Junior Football League player Troy Leptich, who graduated from ECS in 2018, and played for the Winnipeg Rifles.
-The Estevan Bruins turned to a local product for their first pick in the 2020 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Draft on June 5. Forward Carson Birnie of Arcola was chosen in the first round, seventh overall. Birnie spent the 2019-20 season with the Regina Monarchs bantam AA program, where he had 28 goals and 67 points in 29 games. He is currently a member of the U18 Bears.
-The Bruins also announced the hiring of Phil Fife as an assistant coach, joining Aren Miller as an assistant coach and Dylan Lafrentz as the team’s trainer.
-Preston Brodziak announced he would join the Long Island University Sharks program in New York, an NCAA Division 1 program. This season is the first for the Sharks in men’s hockey. The campus is located in Brookville, which is about 40 kilometres east of New York City.
-The Estevan Motor Speedway held its first-ever pay per view-only event, named the Lockdown Showdown, on June 13. The track was closed to the public for the event, and the only way to watch was on a dirt track racing network. Forty-eight drivers from Canada raced in the five different classes.
-Shelley Sargent, who is the superintendent of schools for the South East Cornerstone Public School Division, was selected to receive the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association’s (SHSAA) service award for the South East region. Each year, the SHSAA presents awards at its annual general meeting, and each district selects an award winner to be honoured. Sargent was the southeast recipient.
-The Estevan Youth Soccer Association’s board of directors decided in late June that it would have to cancel its outdoor season. The association said countless hours were spent evaluating many different scenarios, but the board could not find feasible options to run the league this summer while ensuring the protection of all players, coaches, volunteers and fans.
July:
-The 2020 Saskota Baseball League season opened in early July. The senior men’s baseball league features teams throughout the southeast region, and while teams were limited in the number of spectators they could accommodate, fans found ways to watch their favourite teams play.
-James Knibbs, who graduated from the Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) in June, committed to play for the Simon Fraser University (SFU) Clan, a National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division 2 program that plays in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Knibbs is the first athlete from Penta Completions Estevan Minor Football and the ECS Elecs football team to sign with an NCAA club.
-Estevan’s Jayden Dudas finished second in the junior men’s event at the Saskatchewan Junior Golf Championships at the Elmwood Golf Club in Swift Current in July. Competing out of the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club, Dudas finished with a three-round total of 5-over-par 221, eight strokes behind champion Josh Nagy of Saskatoon. Dudas had the low score of the second round at 71.
-The Southeast U18 AAA Twins opened the 2020 season with a pair of losses July 12 to the Regina White Sox at Lynn Prime Park. The Twins dropped the first game 17-2 and the second 5-2.
-The Estevan Motor Speedway was able to have fans in attendance for the first time in 2020 for programs on July 18 and 19. There were 150 spectators in the stands each night, along with some fans who watched from their vehicles behind a fenced-in area. The audience was treated to some pretty entertaining racing each night, as there were nearly 70 racers spread out between the five classes.
August:
-The Estevan Motor Speedway gave its fans another doubleheader during the Saskatchewan Day long weekend, with approximately 75 vehicles entered between the six classes each night. Late models made appearances both nights for what was billed as the Western Canadian Late Model Nationals. Drivers from throughout the Prairie provinces were at the track. Shane Edginton of Winnipeg won the late model division both nights.
-Austin Dobrescu’s return to the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course was a triumphant one. Dobrescu, a former Estevan resident who moved to Brandon, Man., with his family in 2013, won the men’s event of the Frametech Classic at Woodlawn from Aug. 1-3. He fired a 9-under-par 63 in the opening round, and then held on to win the tournament with a three-round total of 211, finishing two strokes ahead of Estevan’s Jayden Dudas. Dobrescu also won the Dave Price Memorial Horse Race that featured the 12 golfers in the classic’s championship flight. Mike Ross won the senior men’s event, while Bernadette wright took the women’s division.
-Jace Carlisle’s final golf event as a junior proved to be a memorable one. Carlisle was the victor at the RE/Max Blue Chip Realty Classic that was held at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course Aug. 6 and 7. The event was Estevan’s stop on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf tour. He defeated fellow Estevan golfer Chase Gedak and Saskatoon’s Josh Nagy in a two-hole playoff. All three golfers shot a 2-under-par 142 over two rounds.
-The Estevan Kinette Club Viragos U18 started practising for the upcoming season. The Viragos played under the Penta Completions Estevan Minor Football banner and featured young women in Grades 7-12. The club was coached by Shanelle Rioux, who played minor and high school football in Estevan and has also been part of the Regina Riot women’s tackle football team.
-The Trackside Motocross Association hosted two days of racing on Aug. 15 and 16 at their facility southeast of Estevan. More than 100 riders converged on the track for the competition, with 11 divisions offered. Points were awarded based on finish, with up to 50 points available each day. The races in Estevan marked the fourth and fifth stops for the South Corner Racing Circuit this year. Other programs were held in Carlyle, Alameda, Weyburn and Assiniboia.
-The Carlyle Cardinals swept the Estevan Tap House Wolves in two straight games to win the Saskota Baseball League title. Estevan and Carlyle were the top two teams in the league this season. Carlyle took Game 1 of the final 6-1 on Aug. 17 at Lynn Prime Park in Estevan, and then won Game 2 9-6 the following night at Lions Park in Carlyle. The championship was the first for the Cardinals since 2016. Normally the league holds its championship tournament in a weekend in late July, but that wasn’t possible this year due to COVID restrictions, so it held a multi-week playoff in August.
-The U18 AAA Bears were finally able to watch their top prospects during the club’s inaugural fall camp from Aug. 21-23 at Affinity Place. More than 40 players were divided into three separate teams, and participated in on-ice sessions, fitness testing and other activities. The camp concluded with an intersquad game.
-The Southeast U18 AAA Twins and the Estevan U18 AA Brewers baseball teams saw their seasons came to an end, but both teams made considerable strides. The Twins were defeated 7-6 by the Regina White Sox in the South Division semifinal in Regina, while the Brewers lost 7-6 to the Weyburn Beavers in the South Division final. Weyburn was the only team to beat the Brewers this year.
-Five drivers from southeast Saskatchewan were the track champions for the Estevan Motor Speedway this year. Estevan’s Kody Scholpp (modifieds), Chris Hortness (stock cars) and Ryder Raynard (slingshots), Lampman’s Leevi Runge (sport mods) and Torquay’s Conner Hansen (hobby stocks) were crowned as the champions following the Aug. 29 program. Hansen won the closest division, as the top four drivers in the hobby stock class were separated by 14 points.
-Local tennis players had the opportunity to work on their skills on Aug. 29 and 30 as part of a clinic that was held at the tennis courts at the Estevan Leisure Centre. Sessions on the first day saw 13 kids between the ages six to 12, six adult beginner players and 14 intermediate adult players work on their skills. The clinic was a partnership between the Estevan Tennis Club and Tennis Saskatchewan.
September:
The Estevan Bruins began an extended training camp on Sept. 9, even though, at the time, they didn’t know when their season would begin. They were skating daily at Affinity Place to get ready.
-The Estevan Oilfield Technical Society (OTS) held a successful Oilmen’s golf event on Sept. 11 at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course, but the format was different from previous years. A total of 179 golfers entered. Normally it would be played over three days in June, with 18-hole and 36-hole champions crowned, but due to COVID-19, it was just a one-day showdown in September. Rick Hallberg of Weyburn was the winner with a 3-under-par 69.
-Estevan’s Aaron Turnbull captured the prestigious 92-lap John Seitz Memorial Late Model Race on Sept. 12 in Grand Forks, N.D., and pocketed US$9,200 for his efforts. Turnbull became the first driver to win the race in back to back years. About 50 late model drivers were competing. Normally there would be a healthy contingent of Canadian drivers, but due to the closure of the Canada-U.S. border to non-essential traffic, Turnbull was the only racer from Canada. He was in the U.S. for his business before the race, and self-isolated for two weeks after the win.
-One of the top junior golf events in Estevan each year was held Sept. 13 at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course. The 37th drew 38 teams, with entries in several divisions.
-The Saskatchewan Roughriders recognized an Estevan man as one of their SaskTel Everyday Heroes. Kevin Sutter was saluted for his efforts to go above and beyond. Sutter has been travelling through Alberta and Saskatchewan during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that everyone has safe drinking water, and that water and wastewater plants are running. Sutter retired from his job as the manager of the City of Estevan’s water division in 2017, following a lengthy career.
-The Estevan Motor Speedway wrapped up its 2020 season by hosting its annual Enduro race on Sept. 18. Greg Wanner was the winner, as he was the first to complete the 150 laps within the 90-minute time limit. Danny James, who also completed all 150 laps, was second.
-Wyatt Haux, a graduate of the Estevan Lacrosse Association who plays the transition position on the lacrosse court, was selected in the sixth round, 92nd overall, by the Saskatchewan Rush in the Sept. 18 National Lacrosse League Draft. Haux was rated to go in the late second round or the early third round of the draft, but was the second-last player selected. A few days later, he signed with the Rush.
-The Estevan Kinette Club Viragos female football team lost 56-0 to the Moosomin Generals at Woodlawn Athletic Park in the Viragos first game. Coach Shanelle Rioux said she was pleased with the Viragos effort, but there was also room for improvement.
-Estevan city council committed $150,000 over the next two years for the city to be the top sponsor of the 2022 Centennial Cup national Junior A hockey championship, sponsored by Tim Hortons. The tournament will have an economic spinoff of about $3 million for Estevan, and the event requires corporate sponsorships of $200,000-$300,000. With the city’s support, it means the steering committee for the event can focus on ticket sales.
-The Estevan U18 AAA Bears new dressing room was dedicated Sept. 25 to the late Ron Areshenkoff, who was a part of the committee that helped bring the team to reality for the 2020-21 season, and a person who played an instrumental role in the fundraising for Affinity Place. He was also heavily involved in the community. Having a new and fully equipped dressing room is essential for the team and a recruiting advantage. Each player has his own seat and there is one vacant spot in case the team needs to call up an affiliated player.
-Members of Estevan's Trackside Motocross Association had a successful year while racing on the South Corner Racing Circuit. More than two dozen Trackside riders were part of the circuit this season. The circuit was the only one to operate in Saskatchewan this summer. The season started July 11 and wrapped up Sept. 26.
Two young people from Estevan won championships in the circuit. Deegan LeMoine won the title in the 65cc division and Royce Milford was first in 50cc for the season.
-Local angler Brady Selk was the big winner of the inaugural Bass Battles competition out on Boundary Dam from Sept. 18-27. Competitors could fish as often as they wanted over the course of 10 days, and catch and record as many fish as they pleased, but it would be the cumulative size of the five longest fish that determined the winner. Selk finished first at 240.9 centimetres for his five longest bass. Selk also caught the most fish overall at 37, 11 more than Spencer’s 26, and had the most fish logged over 40 centimetres in length.
October:
-Audited financial statements released at the Estevan Bruins annual general meeting on Oct. 2 showed a difficult financial picture for the junior A hockey team, but according to new president George Sereggela, the situation is improving. The statements were for the 2019-20 fiscal year that ended April 30. Among the notable improvements was that the team paid off its accounts payable in August, the first time it didn’t have accounts payable since Sereggela has been involved with the team.
-Members of the Estevan Gymnastics Club showcased their strength and emerged victorious in their inaugural showdown with players from the Estevan Bruins. Representatives of the two clubs went head to head Oct. 8 at the gymnastics club’s facility in a fundraiser. Bruins players were in first, and then the gymnasts had their turn. A Calcutta-style fundraiser was offered for the various tests of strength involving the two clubs, and participants collected pledges for a sit-up-a-thon competition. The Bruins won just one competition.
-The Saskatchewan Hockey Association (SHA) released its return to play plan on Oct. 8. The comprehensive document said tournaments would not be allowed, and had guidelines on everything from league play to provincials to mask usage.
-The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League announced on Oct. 16 that it would be allowed to begin play, starting with preseason games the following weekend and regular season games in early November. Estevan would go on to finish the preseason with a 3-1 record; all of the exhibition games were against the Weyburn Red Wings. The Bruins were limited to 150 fans for the games, and while they hoped capacity would be extended once the regular season began, they were still capped at 150.
November:
The Estevan Bears had an eventful start to their history. They played their first regular season game Nov. 1, which they lost 9-1 to the host Regina Pat Canadians. Carson Birnie of Arcola had the Bears lone goal – the first regular season goal in franchise history. On Nov. 6, they lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Swift Current Legionnaires, picking up their first point in regular season history.
The following week, they defeated the Yorkton Maulers 5-3 in Yorkton for their first win in franchise history, and two days later, they scored four times in the opening eight minutes of the first period to beat Yorkton 4-3 in their first-ever home game.
-The Estevan Bruins opened the 2020-21 regular season with a pair of games against the Melville Millionaires on Nov. 6 and 7. The Bruins rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the third period to beat Melville 4-3 in the first game, but then dropped a 6-3 decision Saturday in the Black and Gold’s home opener at Affinity Place.
-The 2020 Big Six Hockey League season opened Nov. 6 and 7 with a series of games. The nine teams were divided into two divisions, with no games outside of the division. Teams in the west were the Bienfait Coalers, Midale Mustangs, Yellow Grass Wheat Kings and Arcola-Kisbey Combines, and those in the east were the Carlyle Cougars, Redvers Rockets, Carnduff Red Devils, Wawota Flyers and Kipling-Windthorst Oil Kings.
-The Estevan Motor Speedway held its annual general meeting on Nov. 15. The meeting allowed members to reflect on accomplishments, review financial statements and elect a new board. Aaron Turnbull is the new president, replacing Byron Fichter, who held the role for the past three years. Turnbull noted the track was in a better financial position in November than at the start of the year.
-Most local sports were paused on Nov. 25, after the provincial government put a halt on games for team sports. The Estevan Bruins and the Big Six Hockey League’s season were paused until after Christmas. Minor hockey teams can continue practising, with only eight players on the ice at a time, and observing social distancing. The Estevan Curling Club’s leagues and kids program were shut down. Youth sports organizations that aren’t team sports can keep practising as well.
-Prior to the restrictions taking place, the Estevan sharks water polo club held their cohort showdown, with members divided into teams for games throughout the evening of Nov. 26.
-Lampman’s Mary Anne Veroba was elected to the Hockey Canada board of directors. Veroba is the lone Saskatchewan representative on the board. She was one of 20 individuals vying for five board spots.
-Oxbow’s Cordelia Patton, a Grade 12 student at the Oxbow Prairie Horizons School, committed to play volleyball with the University of Winnipeg Wesmen for the fall of 2021. She helped the Black Knights win a provincial title in 2019, and has also impressed in Oxbow’s club volleyball program.
December:
-Hunter Eagles from the Estevan Comprehensive School’s football team committed to play for the University of Regina Rams football team, starting in 2021. Eagles will play defensive back for the Rams. He was named the top defensive player in the Moose Jaw High School Football League in 2019 in his Grade 11 year.
