The Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins return to action Friday night, as the team embarks on the first stop of a three-game road trip this weekend, in Nipawin.
The Bruins enter play fourth in the Bunge Division and seventh overall in the SJHL standings, with a 23-21-3 record through 47 games. With just nine games to go on the regular season slate, the team’s 49 points are tied with sixth-place Melville and eighth-place Kindersley. Ninth-place Melfort (48 points) and 10th-place Humboldt (47 points) make it five teams separated by just two points battling it out for the final three playoff spots to the end of the season.
The Hawks enter play second in the UPL Division and fourth overall Friday, currently smack-dab in the middle of a standings race of their own. With 62 points the Hawks sit just two back of third-place Yorkton and two points up on fifth-place Weyburn.
Players to Watch
Bruins’ forward, Ewan Rennie is coming off a monster performance last Sunday which saw the product of Langley, BC., notch his second hat-trick of the season, in a 5-2 win over Nipawin at Affinity Place.
With five goals in his last two games to earn SJHL MVP of the Week honours, Rennie’s 33 goals and 67 points in just 44 games this season put him three goals up on Yorkton’s William Leonard for the league-lead, and tied in points with Yorkton’s Gabriel Courchesene in a down to the wire scoring race.
Nipawin’s Eric Hoiness has also been on fire as of late, entering the weekend fresh off a four point (1G, 3A) performance against La Ronge Wednesday. With 16 points (3G, 13A) in his last eight, the Saskatoon, SK., product has been on a rapid ascent up the league scoring leaders in recent weeks, now tied for seventh overall with 52 points (16G, 36A) in 48 games this year.
Special teams
PP: EST: 20.6% (6th) | NIP: 18.7% (7th)
PK: EST: 81.4% (8th) | NIP: 88% (1st)
Goaltending
Between the pipes, Nathan Kam will get the start for the Bruins, while Gage Roberts gets the nod for the Hawks.
Kam is 10-6-0 this season with a 3.15 goals against average and .917 save percentage through 17 games. Roberts is 20-11-2 this year through 33 games, with a 2.73 goals against average and .920 save percentage.
Due to current issues with the Bruins’ YouTube Livestream, tonight’s (Fri) game will be broadcast on Facebook Live. Pregame will begin at 6:45 p.m. with puck drop to follow at 7 p.m.
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Marty Martinson/Bruins PxP & Marketing Director
On X: @MartyMartyPxP1
