For the second time this season, the Estevan Bruins and Notre Dame Hounds met up for a neutral-site game. Though it will go into the books as a home game for Notre Dame, the Bruins were well represented in the stands at the Harry O. Memorial Arena in Midale, located just 25 minutes from Estevan.
The Bruins were victorious in Southey back on November 5th with a 5-4 shootout win. However this time, it would be the Notre Dame Hounds earning the victory with a 6-3 win over Estevan.
The fans in Midale would see the scoring start early as both teams would score in the opening minutes. Rookie forward Troy Hamilton broke the ice just 1:23 into the game with a backhand shot top corner for his 5th of the season. Cody Davis and Tyler Savage assisted on the goal.
Just over a minute later, Jarrett Penner would tie the game with a powerplay goal at 1-1 at the 2:36 mark. It would remain 1-1 until the final minutes of the period when the Hounds would strike for two quick goals. Jake Dale gave Notre Dame the lead at the 16:42 mark and Jared Hamm added a powerplay goal at the 18:00 mark to give the Hounds a 3-1 lead going into the 2nd period.
The Bruins would even the score up in the 2nd period thanks to a pair of powerplay goals from their defence. At the 4:41 mark, Kade McMillen’s point shot found it’s way through a screen and past Notre Dame’s Logan Dyck. McMillen’s 4th of the year was assisted by Hamilton and Eddie Gallagher.
Devan Harrison would tie the game at 3-3 at the 10:56 mark as his powerplay shot was intially stopped by Dyck, but the puck trickled out of his equipment and over the goal line for Harrison’s 3rd of the year. Tanner Manz and Isaiah Thomas assisted on the goal, as the game remained at 3-3 heading into the final period.
In the 3rd period, the Hounds would take the lead back as Curtis Wiebe deflected a shot past Estevan’s Keenan Rancier to make it 4-3 at the 6:17 mark. The Bruins would run into penalty trouble shortly thereafter which Notre Dame would make them pay on.
Just as a 5-on-3 powerplay expired, Hardy Wagner scored to make it 5-3 Notre Dame at the 11:25 mark. Then on another powerplay, Joseph Santalucia scored the insurance marker to make the final 6-3 for the Hounds.
Keenan Rancier (35/41) settled in after the 1st period and played solid despite giving up a season-high six goals. Logan Dyck (35/38) earned the win for Notre Dame.
Special teams played a big role in the scoring on Monday night. The Bruins’ powerplay finished at (2/6) while Notre Dame executed on (3/9) powerplay’s, not including their 5th goal which was scored just as the penalties expired.
A reported 502 fans were in the Harry O. Memorial Arena in Midale for the game, creating another exciting atmosphere for SJHL hockey in small town Saskatchewan.
The Bruins have one game remaining before the Christmas break, as they host the Yorkton Terriers on Saturday, December 21st at 7:30pm.
