There will be no love lost Friday night at Affinity Place, when the Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins host the division rival, Yorkton Terriers for the first game of a home-and-home in a special Valentine’s Day showdown.
A Look at the Numbers
The Bruins enter the weekend fourth in the Viterra Division and 10th overall in the SJHL standings, with a 14-23-6 record through 43 games. Eager to snap a four-game skid, the Bruins will be looking to build on back-to-back games in Flin Flon which saw the team play the Bombers to a 1-1 game at the end of 40 minutes last Friday, and 2-1 game at the end of two Saturday.
The Terriers enter play second in the Viterra Division and fourth overall in the league standings, with a 27-16-1 record through 44 games. Coming off back-to-back wins over the Battlefords and Notre Dame last weekend, the Terriers sit just three points back of Weyburn for third overall.
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Players to Watch
Terriers’ captain, Jaron Desnoyer sits second in league scoring with 55 points (23G, 32A) in just 38 games this season. Tied with Humboldt’s Jacob Strizzi for a league-best 1.45 points-per-game this season, Desnoyers has been especially lethal of late, with the quick and shifty left-winger having registered eight goals and 19 points over his last 10 games.
The Bruins will be looking for different players to step up this weekend, as Friday marks the team’s first game since leading scorer Kent Moors left to join Sherwood Park of the BCHL.
On a positive note, Friday will mark a special milestone for Estevan local, Boston Tait, who will suit up on the blue line for his SJHL debut with the hometown Bruins. Tait grew up cheering for the Bruins; even serving as the 7th Player with the team as a youngster. At just 15, Tait is a 1st Round selection (#12 overall) of the Wenatchee Wild in the 2024 WHL Bantam Draft, so this could be his lone game with the B’s before making the jump full time to the WHL next year.
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Special Teams
PP: EST: 18.2% (10th) | YOR: 23.0% (2nd)
PK: EST: 77.5% (10th) | YOR: 79.9% (8th)
Goaltending
Estevan will start Beck Boiteau between the pipes, fresh off his best game as a Bruin last weekend. The Medicine Hat, AB., product is coming off a 44-save outing versus Flin Flon, with a 4.45 goals against average and .862 save percentage through five games with the team this season. Zach Shaughnessy, who will back-up, has posted a 4-6-1 record through 12 games with a 3.75 goals against average and .894 save percentage.
Yorkton is expected to start 20-year-old veteran, Ethan Farrow. Farrow is 17-5-1 this season with a 3.43 goals against average and .899 save percentage. Callum Creig, who will back-up, is 13-7-0 in 21 games with a 3.33 goals against average and .895 save percentage.
To celebrate Valentine’s Day Friday, there will be a Valentine’s-themed pipe and drape photo wall on the concourse during the game. Fans are encouraged to take photos with their Valentine, friends or family to celebrate a Valentine’s to remember at the Bruins’ game!
Bruins’ players who are not dressed Friday will also be selling tickets to the Bruins’ NHL Raffle in the lobby area ahead of game time! Full details on the prizes available can be found here.
Can’t make the game? Catch all the action on FloHockey and for free on the Bruins’ Official YouTube Livestream. Pregame will start at 6:45 p.m. with puck drop to follow at 7 p.m.
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Marty Martinson/Estevan Bruins PxP & Marketing Director
On X: @MartyMartyPxP1
