The Estevan Bruins earned their first win in 2023 as they scored early and often en route to a convincing 5-3 victory over the Yorkton Terriers on Wednesday night.
The Bruins’ special teams were the difference and were involved from the opening face-off. Just 28 seconds into the game, Bruins’ captain Kade Runke was penalized for checking-from-behind and given a game misconduct.
However, it would be Estevan that would open the scoring while shorthanded. Returning forward Keagon Little, who played despite being injured in the previous game, scored his first goal of the year at the 48-second mark to give the Bruins an early 1-0 lead. Little would then assist on the Bruins’ next goal at the 5:24 mark as Ilia Chmelevski scored his 3rd of the year on the power play to make it 2-0. Yorkton would trim the deficit to 2-1 heading into the 2nd period.
The Bruins’ got another early goal to start the next frame as Gabriel Filion sniped his 4th of the season just 19 seconds in to increase the lead to 3-1. Though Yorkton would score less than a minute later to make it 3-2, the Bruins’ powerplay would strike again as Filion scored his second of the period to make it 4-2 at the 8:25 mark. The Bruins would carry the two-goal lead into the 3rd period.
The Bruins got an insurance marker at the 6:42 mark as Sal Collora potted his 7th of the year, increasing the lead to 5-2. Yorkton would make it 5-3 with only minutes remaining, but Bruins’ goaltender Jackson Miller would slam the door shut the rest of the way and the Bruins’ skated off with a 5-3 victory.
Miller stopped 28/31 shots in earning his 3rd win of the season, while Yorkton’s Caleb Allan (28/33) was tagged with the loss. Estevan went 2/3 on the powerplay, and scored shorthanded while holding the Terriers to 0/3 on the man advantage.
The Bruins are back at home this weekend with the last two home games in January on ‘Parents Weekend’. The Bruins (21-16-1-1) host Notre Dame (12-14-2-2) on Friday night and Battlefords (31-0-2-1) on Saturday, both games begin at 7pm at Affinity Place.
