* PHOTO – Kelly Kocur Jacobson
The Playoff matchups are set for the 2023 SJHL Quarterfinal round and for the Estevan Bruins, they’ll prepare to face a familiar foe to begin their title defence.
The 6th-ranked Bruins will face the 3rd-ranked Flin Flon Bombers in a Best-of-7 series when playoffs begin on Friday, March 17th. The Bombers will have home ice advantage in the series, hosting Games 1 & 2 at the Whitney Forum. The two teams played in an epic 7-game series last year in the 2022 SJHL Final, with the home team winning every game culminating in the Estevan Bruins hoisting the championship trophy in Game 7.
The Bruins have 6 players who won the title last year over Flin Flon: goaltender Cam Hrdlicka, defenceman Aleksa Babic, and forwards Cody Davis, Keagon Little, Mitch Kohner, and Kade Runke. Flin Flon will have 8 players who played in the final last year: Jaedan Mercier, Reece Richmond, Jacob Vockler, Cory King, Kylynn Olafson, Cole Tanchuk, Lucas Fry, and finally Alex Von Sprecken…who won the championship with Estevan last year before being traded to Flin Flon earlier this past season.
Flin Flon won the season series this year going (3-1-0-0), winning both games at home (5-1, 3-1) and once in Estevan (7-6 OT). The Bruins won once at home (8-6), going (1-2-1-0).
DATES (All in SK Time)
Fri. Mar. 17/Sat. Mar. 18 – 6:30pm
Games 1 & 2 – Estevan @ Flin Flon
Tue. Mar. 21/Wed. Mar. 22 – 7:00pm
Games 3 & 4 – Flin Flon @ Estevan
Fri. Mar. 24 – 6:30pm
Game 5 – Estevan @ Flin Flon *If Necessary
Sun. Mar. 26 – 7:00pm
Game 6 – Flin Flon @ Estevan *If Necessary
Tue. Mar. 28 – 6:30pm
Game 7 – Estevan @ Flin Flon *If Necessary
Stay tuned for details on tickets for Games 3 & 4 at Affinity Place.
SJHL QUARTERFINAL
1) Battlefords vs 8) Weyburn
2) Humboldt vs 7) Nipawin
3) Flin Flon vs 6) Estevan
4) Melfort vs 5) La Ronge
