The Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins opened their weekend home-and-home with the rival Red Wings Friday night in Weyburn, in a game that saw the team battle back from a third period deficit to secure a single point in a 5-4 O.T. loss.
Cash Olson headlined the positives for the Bruins, scoring his first two career SJHL goals in a game that saw the team finish strong, with an effort the 18-year-old said shows what they’re truly capable of.
“I think we didn’t come out as hard as we can, we kind of came out flat-footed, but as the game went on we picked up our feet and the guys kind of grew energy,” Olson said. “We were on the road, we weren’t at home so we had to get our own energy going and we found a way. We almost took [the win] home, snuck away with a point, and yeah, it was an unreal game.”
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Olson’s first came as the tying goal, midway through the first period off a great pass by new acquisition, Drew Beasley. Coming just moments after the expiration of a five-minute power play, Olson said the pressure created on the man-advantage definitely played a role.
“[The Red Wings] have a really aggressive forecheck and PK, so it can be hard to get set up with that, but we were able to kind of break them down a bit and made them tired,” Olson recalled of the play. “Beasley was able to get the puck on the flank and walk down the wall, and I saw an opening because they were all tired and kind of stayed a little high [in the zone]. He found me and I got a nice one into the back of the net.”
A 1-1 game at the end of the first, the second period saw the Wings jump out to the lead once again with two unanswered. Weyburn then followed up with a third straight in the opening minutes of the third to cap a Roan Burgess hat trick and make it 4-1.
Rather than crumble however, the Bruins would show their resiliency and claw back.
Olson’s second of the game was also the highlight of the night, converting on a slick tick-tack-toe passing play from Rylan Williams to Ewan Rennie, to Olson for the finishing touch.
It was one the rookie couldn’t help but smile about when recalling the play.
“I’m just seeing three guys who know how to find each other,” Olson said postgame of how the play developed. “We all have great vision on the ice, and that was honestly such a nice play.”
Making it 4-2, the goal also ignited a new spark in the team, as just four minutes later, it was followed by a power play marker on a ROCKET shot by Colton Getzlaff, for his second of the year.
Now 4-3, the gates were open and the horses were running full-tilt. The tension in the air was palpable and the confidence on the Bruins’ bench, sky-high. It wasn’t a matter of IF but WHEN the tying goal would come.
And it did. With just 17 seconds to go in regulation.
With the goalie pulled and the extra-attacker on, the Bruins lined up for a faceoff in the offensive zone. Then, a savvy play by Rennie to spring in and steal the puck, and find his favourite target, Williams.
Cue the highlight-reel.
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Although the Wings would recover to score the OT winner off the stick of Luke Dekay, to avoid collapse, Olson said an effort like the Bruins’ showed late only bodes well for the rematch Saturday and moving forward.
“That last 10 minutes definitely changes things for tomorrow (Sat),” he said. “[With the comeback] the boys were all excited and we were jumping up and down on that last one, but I think most importantly it showed what we’re capable of. It showed that we can be a strong team and if we play like we did in that last 10 minutes we can have a great run in this league.”
The Bruins will return to home ice at Affinity Place tonight (Sat) for the rematch in night two of the weekend series. The game will be available on FloHockey, and for free on the Bruins YouTube Livestream. Pregame with Marty Martinson will begin at 6:45 p.m. with puck drop to follow at 7 p.m.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE BRUINS YOUTUBE LIVESTREAM
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Marty Martinson/Bruins PxP & Marketing Director
On X: @MartyMartyPxP1
