Local businesses and citizens have generally been behind Estevan's bid for the 2016 Saskatchewan Games from the start, and now they're being asked to make their support as visible as possible.
All the information has been submitted, all the nuts and bolts are understood, but style points count in this thing too.
Showing the Saskatchewan Games Council that Estevan is a vibrant, thriving community that would throw its considerable weight behind the Games could go a long way.
Swift Current has the finished track, and they've waited even longer than the Energy City, as they last hosted in 1976.
Having those things work against Estevan makes it even more important to sell the Games Council representatives on this city's community spirit.
Yes, the focus of next Thursday's tour will be stopping at various venues that will be used to host sports and house athletes. That's what the questions and answers will be about.
But the route for the tour has been set up in a way that will showcase the rest of the city too. The selection committee will see local landmarks, the downtown area, the booming nature of the city.
That means they'll also see signs in business windows and on cars if people put them up.
It's a critical juncture in the bidding process, the last chance to make Estevan's case, and the bid committee is asking for all hands on deck.
The Estevan Bruins have put together an excellent road record so far this season, with all six of their wins now coming on the road following a sweep of their northern swing last week.
On those trips that take you into the northern part of the province, to places like Nipawin, Melfort and Flin Flon, usually the best you could hope for is two wins out of three.
It's so hard to win three nights in a row when you're that far away from home, dealing with bus legs, going into hostile rinks -and the Whitney Forum is as hostile as any.
Not many teams can go into Flin Flon and shut out the Bombers in their own barn, but the Bruins did, with Matt Gibney stopping all 35 shots he faced.
The Hawks and Mustangs have both given the Bruins a lot of trouble the last couple of years, so to beat both of them in one trip is quite an accomplishment as well.
Goaltending was key for the Bruins, with Brett Lewchuk making 39 saves against Melfort and Gibney doing the same against Nipawin.
Many players also faced an old teammate in the Hawks game, as Steven Glass started for Nipawin after being acquired from Drumheller.
Now the Bruins have to work on their home record. They haven't won yet this season in four games at Affinity Place.
They hosted Yorkton last night and have Battlefords and Kindersley here this weekend, so that will have to change soon.
Contact Josh Lewis at 306-634-2654 or [email protected]. Is anyone else flabbergasted that Thursday was Ricky Ray's first game ever over 500 yards passing?
