The Estevan Bruins traveled up to the northern part of the province for a 4-game road trip against the SJHL’s Sherwood division.
At the end of the five-day road trip, the Bruins returned home with a (1-3) record against four of the top six teams in the league in the team’s first of two northern road swings this season.
The Bruins continue to hold down the 8th and final playoff spot following the road trip with a (22-21-3-1) record, five points ahead of the Kindersley Klippers (18-22-6-1) who are the only team in striking distance of the Bruins. Estevan continues to remain 4 points behind the Humboldt Broncos (22-19-6-2) for the 7th seed, with the Bruins still holding two games in hand on Humboldt.
TUESDAY, JAN. 28 – LOSS – 4-3 @ NIPAWIN
The Bruins started the road trip with a highly competitive and entertaining back-and-forth game against the Hawks. The Bruins’ never led in the game, but the game was tied 1-1 after the 1st period and 3-3 after the 2nd period. In the 3rd period, Nipawin scored the go-ahead goal just seconds after a powerplay expired to take a 4-3 lead and the Hawks would hold on for the victory. Keenan Rancier (32/36) played well but got the loss in net. In the game, defenceman Tylor Ludwar would sustain an injury that would knock him out of the game and Ludwar would remain sidelined for the remainder of the road trip.
Bruins’ Scoring Summary
1st (19:18) – Brady Nicholas (9) – Eddie Gallagher (24), Erik Boers (3) (Score 1-1)
2nd (3:18) – Dayton Deics (3) – Mason Strutt (4) (Score 3-2 NIP)
2nd (6:46) – Brady Nicholas (10)(PP) – Devan Harrison (19), Jayden Davis (24) (Score 3-3)
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 29 – LOSS – 9-2 @ FLIN FLON
Game two of the road trip would result in the team’s worst defeat of the season. With Ludwar’s injury and Austin King-Cunningham serving a suspension throughout the road trip, the Bruins would play with 13 forwards and 5 defenceman for the next three games.
Flin Flon’s league-leading and potent offensive attack overwhelmed the Bruins early, as the Bombers led 5-0 after the 1st period. Keenan Rancier (10/14) was replaced by Randy Cooke (25/30) after the 4-0 goal for the remainder of the game. Flin Flon increased their lead to 9-0 in the 2nd period before the Bruins scored their first goal as it was 9-1 after two periods. The Bruins added a goal in the 3rd period to make the final 9-2. Halfway through the final frame, Troy Hamilton dropped the gloves with Flin Flon’s Easton Haygarth.
Bruins’ Scoring Summary
2nd (19:47) – Tyson Manz (4) – Kade McMillen (25), Kersey Reich (7) (Score 9-1 FF)
2nd (12:24) – Brady Nicholas (11) – Eddie Gallagher (25), Jayden Davis (25) (Score 9-2 FF)
FRIDAY, JAN. 31 – LOSS – 9-2 @ LA RONGE
The third game of the road trip would conclude with the exact same result as Wednesday’s game, another 9-2 defeat this time to the La Ronge Ice Wolves.
La Ronge would jump out to a 4-1 lead after the 1st period before extending it to 7-1 after two periods of play. Again, Keenan Rancier (12/18) would be replaced by Randy Cooke (14/17) in net after the Ice Wolves’ 6th goal. Also in the 2nd period, Erik Boers would get into a tilt with La Ronge’s Spencer Kennedy. La Ronge would score twice more with the Bruins adding a second goal in the 3rd period to make the final 9-2.
Bruins’ Scoring Summary
1st (11:07) – Troy Hamilton (9) – Mason Strutt (5), Tyler Savage (19) (Score 2-1 LAR)
3rd (12:24) – Cody Davis (9)(PP) – Eddie Gallagher (26), Griffin Asham-Moroz (21) (Score 8-2 LAR)
SATURDAY, FEB. 1 – WIN – 3-2 OT @ MELFORT
The Bruins would close off the road trip on a winning note, this time coming out on top of a back-and-forth battle with a 3-2 overtime win over the Melfort Mustangs.
The Bruins would score early on the powerplay for their first lead of the road trip and take a 1-0 lead into the 1st intermission. Melfort would score two quick goals early in the 2nd period to take a 2-1 lead, but the Bruins would score on another powerplay opportunity to tie the game at 2-2 after two periods of play. Neither team would score in the 3rd period as the game would head off to overtime.
Melfort would get a great opportunity on the first shift of overtime but hit the post. The puck bounced off the post and out to Isaiah Thomas, who would skate in on a breakaway from his own zone. With Jayden Davis as a decoy on the 2-on-0, Thomas picked the corner with a shot to lift the Bruins to a 3-2 victory. Randy Cooke (46/48) was the star of the game for Estevan, earning the win in his best start of the season.
Bruins’ Scoring Summary
1st (3:26) – Jayden Davis (10)(PP) – Tanner Manz (16) (Score 1-0 EST)
2nd (13:36) – Troy Hamilton (10)(PP) – Eddie Gallagher (27), Kade McMillen (26) (Score 2-2)
OT (0:30) – Isaiah Thomas (14) – Unassisted (Score 3-2)
