The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins are piling up the points offensively despite five of their top six forwards graduate in the offseason as they sweep the Melville Millionaires in their first two games of the season.
The Bruins won 7-4 over the Mills in Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League action at Affinity Place, one day after winning 5-4 in a shootout in Melville the night before, giving them a leg up in the early Viterra Division standings.
The Bruins jumped out to a 3-0 lead at 7:24 of the first period and seemed to be in complete control early. But a lapse that lasted half a period and saw the Bruins’ lead evaporate was rectified by the end of the period to the point where the Bruins had a 6-4 lead after 40 minutes. An empty net goal from Turner Ripplinger, his second goal of the game, salted the game away for the Bruins.
Johnny Witzke scored a pair in the game also, while T.J. Irey, George Cathers and Michael McChesney each scored singles. Irey is in a tie for the league’s scoring lead with Flin Flon’s Brandson Hein with seven points in his first two games.
Jake Anthony stopped 27 of 31 shots in net for the Bruins while the Bruins fired 23 at Colby Entz and Berk Berkeliev.
The Bruins’ next action is Tuesday night at home to the Yorkton Terriers.
