Local hockey fans may have noticed a familiar face behind the glass in the Estevan Power Dodge Bruins 5-4 win over the Melfort Mustangs at Affinity Place on Saturday.
Estevan's Preston Brodziak made his Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) debut with the Black and Gold taking a regular shift with fourth-line forwards Levi Barnstable and Isaac Embree. The 17-year-old call-up from the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League's Regina Pat Canadians didn't factor on the scoresheet, but he did see time on ice during key situations in the game.
“He's a good player,” said Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood. “If his team wasn't queued up for a long playoff run we'd bring him in at the end of his AAA season. He's ready to play at this level right now.”
Brodziak has 13 goals and 32 points through 34 games with the first-place Pat Canadians in his rookie season with the team. The six-foot and 180-pound forward suited up with the Estevan midget AA Bruins the previous two seasons tallying 38 goals and 72 points in 47 games.
“It was just nice coming home,” said Brodziak, noting Lewgood gave him a heads up a few weeks ago that he'd be making his SJHL debut against Melfort. “I always looked up to the Bruins when I was a kid and it was a great experience to play my first game as one.”
The Bruins (28-14-0-1) outlasted the Mustangs (19-20-2-4) in the 5-4 win with the road side seeming to have a quick answer for almost every goal scored against them. Bruins right wing Matt McNeil potted the first marker 10:23 into the first period only to have Mustangs defenceman Sam Houston tie the affair a little over a minute later.
After McNeil put the Black and Gold back in front 4:20 into the middle frame, Mustangs right wing Miles Warkentine came right back to tie the game. Bruins captain Lynnden Pastachak then made it 3-2 halfway through the period with Rock Ruschkowski replying for the visitors about four minutes later.
Hayden Guilderson beat Mustangs goalie Evan Plotnik late in the second period before Michael McChesney helped the home side to a two-goal advantage 6:22 into the final stanza. Melfort's Kalem Zary brought his team back to within one 48 seconds later, but that was all they would get past Bruins netminder Nathan Alalouf.
Lewgood said they plan to have Brodziak back for another game or two later in the season, but that would likely be it assuming the Pat Canadians go on a long playoff run. He said Brodziak makes their team better and his strong play against the Mustangs provided a perfect example.
“It was a good experience,” said Brodziak. “It was exciting when I got the call up and I thought I played pretty good. I'm just glad that I could come out here.”
