Never let it be said that this year's edition of the Power Dodge Estevan Bruins lacks a flair for the dramatic.
The team won a pair of shootouts in Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League action as they adjust to life with a pair of new players. They defeated the Notre Dame Hounds 6-5 Wednesday and the Nipawin Hawks 3-2 Sunday.
“Through my life, I've always done the same thing or I tried to,” said Bruins forward Kaelan Holt, who scored goals in regulation in both games and the shootout winner Sunday. “I kind of tried to come in and fake out the goalie and get an open seam. I found it that time and it happened to be the winner, which was nice but I think we played a complete game. It was a team win so it was awesome.”
Goaltender Matt Lukacs stopped 35 of 37 shots from the Hawks in the Bruins net and played a solid game.
“I thought we got better and better as the night went on,” said Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood. “We made a mistake on their second goal but it was an easy mistake to identify and something that could happen at any time. As the game got on, we got better. They probably tired out a little bit but we... put a lot more pressure on them in the second and third period and as a result, we took advantage of a road weary team.
Holt and Zach Goberis, who was just named SJHL player of the month for November, scored for the Bruins in the second period.
Wednesday, the Bruins had to come from behind after surrendering a few goals early. Holt's goal at 13:37 of the third gave the Bruins the lead but Notre Dame tied it a few minutes later to send it to overtime.
Regulation goals were scored by Holt, Goberis, Arthur Miller, and Jake Fletcher with a pair. No player scored in the shootout until fourth Bruin shooter Fletcher. Maxim Sidelnik stopped 30 of 35 shots in regulation in the Estevan net.
“We were a little sloppy but we still pulled out a win,” Holt said. “It's good going into our road swing.”
The Bruins go on a lengthy road trip through the Sherwood Division, playing in Melfort Wednesday, Flin Flon Thursday, La Ronge Saturday and Nipawin Sunday.
The team will be working in the new players as they take to the road for the first time since the acquisitions of Miller and Austin King-Cunningham.
“The boys welcomed me really good. It's a great room in there,” said Miller. “It's really easy getting along with everybody and everything's going good.”
Miller was teammates with several of these players in midget AAA with the Regina Pat Canadians, which is a helpful thing for a new player in a new team.
“Having (Heerspink) here, he's my good buddy having played Pat-C's with him, all the guys in there are all welcoming. They're all good people,” Miller said. “With good guys in the room everything's going to go good.”
The Bruins are currently in second place in the Viterra Division, only a point behind Weyburn.
“We've got to find ways to win games up north here in the next few weeks,” said Lewgood. “It's nice to get that confidence going on the trips.”
As for their new defenceman, Austin King-Cunningham, 17, started the season with the Vancouver Giants this season before coming to the Bruins. The Pilot Butte product was held pointless in four games.
King-Cunningham is 6'1”, 195 pounds, and scored three goals and eight assists for 11 points last season with the Battlefords Stars of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League. Most notable in his numbers last season was his 161 penalty minutes in the 33 games.
Thusfar in his Bruin career, King-Cunningham has one minor penalty in two games.
