The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins season came to an end Sunday night in a 3-2 loss to the Melfort Mustangs at Affinity Place.
Melfort won the best-of-seven Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League semifinal series in six games.
The Bruins came out flying to start the game, and were rewarded for their efforts when Aigne McGeady-Bruce scored on a shot from the point 72 seconds into the game for a 1-0 lead.
Melfort had few chances to score in that period; but they did get a penalty shot. Bruin goaltender Grant Boldt stopped Mustangs scoring star Carson Albrecht.
It remained a one-goal game until seven minutes into the second, when defenceman Kade McMillen pinched in and scored to double the Bruins advantage.
But Melfort scored twice in a three-minute span late in the second to tie the game. Colin Schmidt and Alex Rondeau tallied for Melfort.
It remained a tie game until late in the third, when Justin Ball scored on a break with 3:57 to play. It was just the second goal in the series for Ball, who had 54 in the regular season.
And it was one of just three shots on goal Melfort registered in the frame.
Boldt made 18 saves for the Bruins on the night.
Noah Giesbrecht made 41 for Melfort, including a spectacular stick save off of Michael McChesney on a Bruin power play midway through the third period, when the game was still tied.
The game marked the last with the Bruins for seven graduating players: defencemen McGeady-Bruce, Johnny Witzke and Jake Heerspink, and forwards McChesney, Will Koop, Turner Ripplinger and Bryce Platt.
This week’s edition of the Mercury will have more on this story.
