After a week where the Estevan Bruins won four straight games and outscored their opponents by a combined score of 23-5, it was anticipated that a few weekly awards from the SJHL would be coming Estevan’s way.
Three Bruins’ earned honours for the week of Oct. 25th – 31st including: Mark Rumsey (MVP of the Week), Boston Bilous (Goalie of the Week), and Olivier Pouliot (Forward of the Week).
MVP of the Week – MARK RUMSEY – 4GP – 6G, 6A – 12 PTS
Mark Rumsey went on an absolute tear during the last four games, scoring at least a goal in each game and a multi-point game in each contest. Rumsey had a 4-point game against Battlefords (4-1 W), 3-point games against Kindersley (5-2 W) and Melville (6-0 W), and *only* a 2-point effort against Melville (8-2) on Halloween. For the season, Rumsey sits 3rd overall in SJHL scoring (23 PTS) only a point behind Humboldt Broncos’ teammates Logan Kurki and Connor McGrath (24 PTS). Rumsey is currently on a 6-game point streak entering November, and was recently named the team’s ‘Dominos Player of the Month’ for September-October 2021.
Goalie of the Week – BOSTON BILOUS – 3 GP – (2-0-0-0) – 0.83 G.A.A. – .971 SV% – 1SO – 2A
For the second time this season, Boston Bilous was named the SJHL’s Goalie of the Week after his best week statistically. Bilous made 33/34 saves, and added an assist thanks to his stretch pass to Rumsey, to set the tone for the week in a 4-1 win over Battlefords. After backing up Cam Hrdlicka against Kindersley, Bilous returned to the net in the Bruins’ 6-0 shutout over Melville on Saturday. Bilous made all 23 saves AND once again added an assist with another stretch pass that resulted in a Mikol Sartor goal. It was Bilous’ second shutout of Melville in a week (9-0 on Oct. 23rd). Then on Halloween, Bilous backed up Hrdlicka again but had to come in for the remaining 24 minutes of the game after Hrdlicka left with an injury. Bilous stopped 12/13 shots to close out the 8-2 win, with the only goal allowed coming off an accidental deflection from his defenceman. For the season, Bilous has an (8-2-0-1) record with a sparkling 1.92 G.A.A. (3rd) and .933 SV% (3rd) and 2 SO (2nd). His 2 assists also leads all SJHL goaltenders in points.
Forward of the Week – OLIVIER POULIOT – 4GP – 4G, 3A – 7 PTS
Olivier Pouliot (along with teammate Mikol Sartor) had the most productive week offensively in the SJHL for anyone not named Mark Rumsey. Pouliot has been the driving force for his line which includes Rumsey and rookie forward Keagon Little, who combined for 25 PTS in the 4 GP last week. Pouliot had 2 PTS against Battlefords, including the primary assist on the game-winning goal and the powerplay insurance goal with less than 3 minutes to play in a 4-1 win. Pouliot then had the primary assist on two goals, again on the game-winner, in a 5-2 win over Kindersley. Pouliot scored a shorthanded goal at the end of the 1st period in Saturday’s 6-0 win over Melville, which seemed to break the spirit of Melville early in that contest. Finally, Pouliot scored two powerplay goals to bookend a six-goal 2nd period in Sunday’s 8-2 win over Melville at Affinity Place. For the season, Pouliot has shot up the SJHL scoring list and now sits tied for 8th overall with 17 PTS (7G, 10A) in 15 GP. Pouliot is also on an 11-game point streak, the longest such streak in the SJHL to date and in those 11 games, Pouliot has 14 PTS (7G, 7A).
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
In such a successful week, there were many players stepping up and putting up great performances that are worthy of recognition. As mentioned above, forward Mikol Sartor also had 7 PTS (4G, 3A) in 4 GP capped off with a 4-point performance in Sunday’s 8-2 win. Sartor was named as runner-up to Rumsey for the MVP of the Week honour.
Keagon Little had a 6-point week (1G, 5A), but was edged out by Humboldt’s Matthew Perkins (4G in 2GP) for Rookie of the Week honours.
Fellow rookie Caelan Fitzpatrick had 4PTS (2G, 2A) and is second in team scoring with 18 PTS (8G, 10A) this year.
Cody Davis (1G, 3A) had a point in each game and is currently on a 5-game point streak with 7PTS (2G, 5A) in that span.
On the blueline, Alex Von Sprecken tallied 4 PTS (2G, 2A) along with Kian Calder (1G, 3A) in 4GP. Von Sprecken was named as the runner-up for the week’s SJHL Defenceman of the Week honour, which went to Yorkton’s Tanner Sklaruk (2GP – 1G, 1A). Calder took home SJHL Defenceman of the Week honours for Oct. 18th – 24th.
And rookie goaltender Cam Hrdlicka won both of his starts last week (5-2 over Kindersley, 8-2 over Melville) making a combined 25 saves in the two victories, but only playing just over half of the second game vs Melville after leaving due to injury which isn’t expected to be a long-term injury.
