The Estevan Bruins took to the ice for the first time since November 2020 over the Labour Day weekend as preseason action in the SJHL got underway.
The Bruins played a home-and-home against the Weyburn Red Wings on Sunday and Tuesday. The Bruins took the loss in both exhibition games as the team begins to build towards the regular season.
SUNDAY – Red Wings win 5-3 in Weyburn
Eric Clark played the whole game in net for the Bruins as Weyburn skated off with a 5-3 victory. The score was tied 1-1 after the 1st period, with Eric Houk tying the game late in the frame with assists to Mason Smith and Mark Rumsey. Rumsey then deflected home a point shot early in the 2nd period to tie the game at 2-2, with assists to Aleksa Babic and Olivier Pouliot. Weyburn then scored three unanswered goals to take a 5-2 lead before Cody Davis scored with just over a minute left in the game to round out the scoring in a 5-3 final. Assists on Davis’ goal to Rumsey, who had a 3-point night, and Alex Von Sprecken. Clark made 23 saves in the loss.
TUESDAY – Weyburn wins 3-2 in Estevan
Rookie goaltender Cam Hrdlicka got the start in the second game played in front of over 500 fans at Affinity Place. Weyburn took a 1-0 lead after the 1st period before Caelan Fitzpatrick tied the score at 1-1 after two with a shorthanded goal. Rumsey and Von Sprecken assisted on the goal. The Red Wings then scored twice early in the 3rd period to go up 3-1, Rumsey would deflect a point shot in with the extra attacker on the ice to trim the deficit to 3-2 with 3:00 to play. However, the Bruins couldn’t find the equalizer and the score ended 3-2 for Weyburn. Hrdlicka made 21 saves in the loss. There were also two fights in Tuesday night’s game with a pair of Bruins’ defencemen (Lucas Eagle, Alex Von Sprecken) dropping the gloves with a pair of forwards for Weyburn (Drew Kuzma, Ethan Whillans).
