The Estevan Bruins rode a hot start and a big early lead to another win over the Notre Dame Hounds on Friday night.
The Bruins scored three times in the first period and outlasted a late push from Notre Dame towards a 5-3 win over the Hounds, the 4th consecutive win over Notre Dame this season.
Earlier in the day, three Bruins’ players were named to the SJHL-MJHL Showcase rosters. Each of those three players: Kade Runke, Aleksa Babic and Jag Phangura tallied 2 points in the game helping lead the Bruins to the win.
Phangura opened the scoring with his 10th of the year just 4:30 into the game on the powerplay, with Babic and Owen Miley assisting. Then on another powerplay at 12:56, Runke scored his team-leading 21st goal with both Miley and Babic assisting again to make it 2-0. Before the end of the period at 16:34, Keagon Little scored his 2nd of the year from Phangura and Robbie Stewart to give Estevan a commanding 3-0 lead after 20 minutes.
Little added to the lead with his second goal of the game at the 14:12 mark of the 2nd period to make it 4-0. The goal was another powerplay marker, with Tyler Guy and Ilia Chmelevski assisting.
Notre Dame began the 3rd period on a 5-on-3 powerplay and spoiled Jackson Miller’s shutout bid with a goal just 38 seconds in. The Hounds cut the deficit to 4-2 at the 3:33 mark, making it a close game again. However, Runke added insurance with his second of the game at the 10:30 mark to make it 5-2. Owen Barrow and Gabriel Filion assisted. Notre Dame added another goal at 16:29, but time would run out as the Bruins held on for a 5-3 victory.
Jackson Miller (19/22) earned the win for Estevan, while Johann Trembley-Kau (30/35) was tagged with the loss for Notre Dame.
The Bruins’ powerplay was lethal in the game, going (3/4) on the night. Notre Dame went (1/5) on the man advantage.
