The Estevan Bruins became one of the few teams to knock off the Battlefords North Stars this season, as they defeated the league-leading Stars 3-2 on Wednesday night at Affinity Place.
Tanner Manz gave the Bruins an early jump, as he scored 11 seconds into the game. Since it was the Bruins annual Teddy Bear Toss game, fans tossed teddy bears and other stuffed animals onto the ice after Manz’s goal, causing a delay for several minutes.
When play did resume, Elijah Loon-Stewardson scored for the Battlefords to tie the game, but only 69 seconds later, Jayden Davis responded to put the Bruins back on top.
Griffin Asham-Moroz scored before the period was up to give Estevan a 3-1 lead. The North Stars pulled goaltender Austin Schwab at that point after he allowed three goals on nine shots.
Adam Dmyterko came in and stopped all 26 shots he faced.
It remained a 3-1 game until there was less than two minutes to play in the third, when Matthias Urbanski scored to pull the Stars within one.
But the Bruins clamped down, and not only did Battlefords not test the Bruins again, but they weren’t able to pull the goaltender until the final seconds of the period.
Keenan Rancier stopped 29 shots for the victory.
The Bruins will be back on the ice Friday night when they visit the Melville Millionaires.
