The Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins return to play tonight (Fri), when the team hosts the Battlefords North Stars for the first of two games this weekend at Affinity Place.
The Bruins enter the weekend red-hot having won five straight, with at least a single point in each of their last six (5-0-1). The team sits second in the Bunge Division and fifth overall in the SJHL standings with a 7-3-2 record through 12 games, coming off back-to-back wins over Nipawin and Flin Flon last weekend.
The North Stars sit third in the Nutrien Division and 10th overall in the league standings with a 4-3-2 record through nine games. The Battlefords are coming off a weekend split with their division rivals from Warman, taking home an 8-2 win last Friday, before falling 4-3 in the shootout the following night.
Players to watch
Bruins’ forwards, Ewan Rennie and Rylan Williams sit second and third in league scoring heading into play Friday. Rennie, the defending SJHL MVP of the Week, is coming in fresh off a hat trick versus Flin Flon, with 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) through 12 games. His goal-scoring has been especially on-fire of late, with eight goals in his last four games.
Williams, who will be facing his former team for the first time after being acquired from the Battlefords via blockbuster trade over the summer, has also been on a tear to start the year. The Kyle, SK., product has 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in 12 games, coming off back-to-back multi-point efforts.
Williams said while it’s always a game of note to play the former team, he’s just focused on doing what he can to help the Bruins win.
“It’s just another game,” Williams said, as a smile crept across his face. “Obviously it’s a former team so I’ve got a bit of a chip on my shoulder, but I’m just focusing on playing my game and not trying to do too much out there.”
He said if there’s one thing that’s played a key role in the team’s success on their current winning streak, it’s been their attention to detail on the defensive side of the puck as a group.
“One of the things we knew we needed to work on [early in the year] was our D-zone, so we’ve been practicing that a lot and just focusing on that in the games, trying to dial that in,” Williams said. “I think that obviously led to a lot of our success against Nipawin and Flin Flon, only allowing three goals last weekend.”
The Battlefords are led by cornerstones Gavin Granger and Anthony Campbell.
Granger sits second in defenceman scoring this year with 14 points (two goals, 12 assists) through just nine games, while his 1.56 points-per-game lead all at the position. Granger is coming off two straight multi-point games with five assists in his last two outings, and is likely to see a lot of the Rennie-Williams line as a big-minute matchup defender in addition to the offense.
Campbell, who was the second-highest-scoring returning player in the SJHL this year, has eight points (two goals, six assists) in nine games, tied for second on the team. Like Rennie and Williams, Campbell is another of the elite two-way forwards in the SJHL, and is expected to finish amongst the league’s scoring leaders by season’s end.
Goaltenders
Another former North Star, Dylan Adams, will suit up for the Bruins between the pipes Friday. Adams has been a stabilizing force for Estevan this year, posting a 3-2-2 record through eight games, along with a .903 save percentage.
The Battlefords are likely to give the nod to Kaeden Serpa at the other end, who has also been amongst his team’s MVP’s through the first month. Serpa is 2-2-1 with the Stars this season, having posted a 2.73 goals against average and .924 save percentage.
Both Friday and Saturday’s games will be available on FloHockey and for free on the Bruins YouTube Livestream. Pregame will begin both nights at 6:45 p.m. with puck drop to follow at 7 p.m.
CLICK HERE TO TUNE INTO THE BRUINS YOUTUBE LIVESTREAM
TWO SPECIAL OCCASIONS
Friday’s game will also include a special Toronto Blue Jays tie-in!! The Bruins will be showing the Blue Jays’ Game 1 of the World Series on the jumbotron pregame and during the intermissions in-house at Affinity Place. The ball game starts at 6 p.m.
Saturday’s game will be the Bruins’ Halloween game! Kids 12 and under will receive free admission if dressed in costume, along with the game featuring the traditional Costume Parade in the 1st Intermission and prizes for BEST, CUTEST, and SCARIEST costumes!
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Marty Martinson/Bruins PxP & Marketing Director
On X: @MartyMartyPxP1
