The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) announced the winners of their annual year-end awards Wednesday, with Bruins’ forward, Ewan Rennie taking center stage with some major hardware.
Rennie was named both SJHL Most Valuable Player and Forward of the Year for his standout play this season, leading the league in both goals (37) and points/game (1.47) while finishing just two back of the point-scoring title with 78 points in just 53 games.
While the numbers themselves warrant MVP consideration, Rennie’s output is made even more impressive with added context.
From Oct. 21st when Rennie first took the outright scoring lead with 21 points (11G, 10A) through his first 12 games, the native of Langley BC., never fell below second in overall points to the season’s end, five months later.
Named to the SJHL’s Players of the Week a league-high five times (3x MVP of Week, 2x Forward of Week) in addition to Forward of the Month honours for a red-hot October, Rennie’s consistent excellence was unmatched. Not once this season was he held scoreless more than two games in a row, while being held pointless in back-to-back games on only three occasions.
To put that in perspective, Rennie managed to register an incredible 27(!!) multi-point games, including 10 games of three-plus points, headlined by a pair of hat-tricks against top teams: Flin Flon and Nipawin.
“He wants to score on every opportunity he gets,” Bruins’ linemate, Rylan Williams said. “He doesn’t mess around. Every rep in practice is done with good habits and the intent to get better.”
Rennie’s drive to be the best is also something highlighted by teammate, Noah Asmundson, who spoke to his impact on the team as a competitive engine for the group.
“On and off the ice he’s our most competitive guy, and when your best player is like that it raises the level of intensity of the whole team,” Asmundson said; before adding with a laugh, “He’s a pretty darn good golfer too. Hates to lose on the golf course, very competitive.”
A regular linemate of Rennie’s on the Bruins’ top power play unit, Asmundson went on to say that while the speed and puck skills may be what jumps off the page, it’s Rennie’s subtleties to his game in addition to the skill that sets him apart.
“An underrated part of his game is how good he is at winning his battles,” Asmundson said. “He’s a smaller guy so you would usually consider him for his speed and hands but he consistently wins battles against along the boards against players much bigger than him.”
Bruins’ Head Coach and General Manager, Drew Kocur said having now coached the centerman for two seasons, it’s been special to see what Rennie’s been able to do this year, building on a standout first season with the team in 2024-25.
“We’re obviously really excited for Ewan, he deserves it,” Kocur said. “He’s had a tremendous year and he’s done a lot of good things on and off the ice for our group. Going back to last year, he really kicked it up a whole nother notch this year, so getting recognized with the two awards is well deserved.”
Kocur said whether in practice or on game night, #15 is always looking to bring his best.
“Just the way he approaches every day [stands out],” Kocur said. “We (the coaching staff) talk all the time about how every day’s a chance to get better and he really takes that to heart. Ewan knows that every practice means something, every game means something and he loves to score and set up his teammates. That’s the kind of player he is and the kind of person he is; he puts in the work.”
Rennie’s MVP season has earned the forward his place amongst the prolific Bruins’ players in club history, becoming the first Estevan Bruin to be awarded SJHL MVP honours in 34 years, and just the seventh Bruins’ player to win the award since it was established in 1973. Rennie joins forwards Kim Maier (1992), Scott Burfoot (1988), Adrian Sakundiak (1986), Blaine Chrest (1984), and Ron Dunville (1981) and defenceman Murray Fleck (1974) as the previous Bruins to win SJHL MVP in franchise history.
His 78 points this season are tied with Zach Goberis (2017-18) and Derek Derow (1995-96) for the most by a Bruin dating back to 1992, while also joining Mark Rumsey (2021-22), as just the second Bruin to lead the SJHL in goals since ’92.
Rennie is also the first Bruin to win Forward of the Year since the award was established in 2024, replacing the Player of the Year Award. Prior to the change, Austin Daae was the last Bruin to be awarded Player of the Year while leading the league in scoring in 2014.
Fans can catch Rennie and his teammates in action this post-season, when the team kicks-off their First Round playoff series with the Flin Flon Bombers. Games 1 and 2 of the series will be played this weekend (Friday, Mar. 20 and Saturday, Mar. 21) in Flin Flon, with Games 3 and 4 back home at Affinity Place next Tuesday, Mar. 24 and Wednesday, Mar. 25.
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All Bruins’ playoff games will also be available on FloHockey, and for free on the Estevan Bruins 2.0 YouTube Livestream. Pregame will begin each game night 15 minutes prior to puck drop.
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Marty Martinson Bruins PxP/Marketing Director
On X: @MartyMartyPxP1
