The Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins return to action Wednesday night at Affinity Place, as the team plays host to the division rival, Yorkton Terriers for the first time this season.
The Bruins (3-3-2) enter play fourth in the Viterra Division and 10th overall in the SJHL standings, though playing their best hockey of late. The team is currently in the midst of a five-game point streak (3-0-2) since the turn of the calendar to October.
The Terriers (6-2-0) enter play second in the division and second overall in the league standings, just a single point back of first-place Melville for top spot overall. Yorkton will be eager to bounce back from a 6-4 loss to Weyburn in their last game, Saturday.
The Bruins are led into play Wednesday by a pair of wingers coming off big games on the weekend.
Ewan Rennie scored his first in the SJHL, and added an assist – in a monster two-way performance that saw the Langley, BC., product stretch his point streak to seven-straight (one goal, eight assists). Luke Hogan also enters play red-hot, having scored a pair of goals to extend his goal streak to five in his last four games, as he now sits tied for the league lead amongst rookies in the SJHL.
Yorkton counter with maybe the league’s most dynamic scoring threat from the wing through the early part of the season, in captain, Jaron Desnoyers.
Desnoyer’s eight goals (second in SJHL) and 15 points (third) though eight games both rank amongst the league’s early-season leaders, coming off an impressive three-assist game in Weyburn Saturday. The Terriers’ #12 has been especially dangerous at even strength with 12 of his 15 points coming five-on-five.
Special teams
Estevan do hold the slight edge on the power play heading into Wednesday’s matchup, thanks largely to their prowess up-a-man of late, with five power play goals in their last three games.
Yorkton’s league-best penalty kill (94.7 percent) will be a strong test for the surging Estevan power play, having allowed just two power play goals against through their first eight games.
Goaltending
Kyle Kelsey will get the nod for the Bruins to make his fourth straight start since being acquired by the team early last week. Through three starts Kelsey has been lights out, stopping 47, 48 and 45 shots, to backstop the team to a 2-0-1 record, while sporting a 2.59 goals against average and league-best .946 save percentage *amongst goalies with more than a single start.
Yorkton are expected to counter with Callum Creig between the pipes. Creig has won each of his first two starts in the SJHL, while posting a 2.07 goals against average and .918 save percentage.
Wednesday’s game will be available on FloHockey and for free on the Official Bruins’ YouTube Livestream. The Room by Room Pregame Show will begin at 6:45 p.m. with puck drop to follow at 7 p.m.
Fans attending Wednesday’s game are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items with them to donate for the FCC Drive Away Hunger initiative, with all donations going to support the local food bank for those in need.
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Marty Martinson/Estevan Bruins PxP & Marketing Director
On X: @MartyMartyPxP1