By losing five in a row recently, the Estevan Bruins made a hard task even more difficult.
The Bruins were seventh overall in the SJHL entering last night's game. If the seedings were determined league-wide like the playoffs are done, that would have them on the verge of a first-round bye.
In fact, the Bruins would be in one of those elusive top-two spots if they were in the Sherwood Division.
And if ifs and buts were candies and nuts well, you've heard that one before.
Point is, the Bruins have two elite teams in their division, and after their recent skid, they're 10 points out of a top-two spot that would allow them to skip the new version of the survivor series.
It's only December, you say. Why are you writing about the standings this early?
Well, the calendar may not have flipped to 2014 yet, but if you're keeping score at home, last night's game against the Yorkton Terriers was the Bruins' 29th this season, marking the start of their second half.
Ten-point deficits are hard to make up, especially for a team like Estevan that's still seeking consistency.
Including Tuesday's contest, the Bruins have five games left before the Christmas break. Two of them are against Yorkton and they have one each against Melville, La Ronge and Notre Dame.
Those two Yorkton games will wrap up the season series between the two teams before Christmas.
The Bruins have played the league-leading Terriers fairly well this year, splitting two games apiece so far. Outside of a 5-1 loss in October that would best be forgotten, they've all been one-goal games. So it's not unfathomable that the Bruins could take one or both of those games.
A win in Melville on Sunday would be a big boost as well, and the time is right, as the Mils have struggled after a hot start, winning only four of their last 10 games.
The Wolves have faded badly, but they're still a dangerous team, and the Hounds aren't a team to be taken lightly. They'd probably be over .500 if they weren't in the toughest division in the league.
The stretch run will be here before we know it, so the Bruins would do well to bank some points before the break, even if it won't be easy.
Kelly Kjersem's five-year run as president of the Estevan Minor Hockey Association came to an end last week.
Kjersem confirmed his decision to step down, but said he wouldn't comment on the matter until later in the week.
From speaking with a couple of executive members, it seems the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back was a complaint that wouldn't go away from a parent involved in minor hockey. It appears not to be a gripe with Kjersem so much as the kind of run-of-the-mill stuff that comes with the politics of minor hockey.
Here's hoping Kjersem comments soon, because when a president as polarizing as he is steps down mid-season, it's easy for unsubstantiated rumours to start flying.
Contact Josh Lewis at 306-634-2654 or [email protected]. Anyone else wishing Doc would just take the mound for the Jays one last year?
