The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins and the Melville Mllionaires were fairly far apart in the regular season last season.
If the first game of the new season, which the Bruins won 5-4 in a shootout in Melville, is any indication, this year the teams almost couldn’t be closer.
Michael McChesney was the only scorer in the shootout after a close game that saw the teams knotted for most of the game.
New captain Jake Heerspink scored a goal and two assists, offensive contributions matched by TJ Irey, with George Cathers and McChesney scoring the other goals for the Bruins.
The scores at the breaks were 2-2 after the first period, 3-3 after the second and 4-4 after the third period.
Jake Anthony stopped 25 of 29 shots in regulation and overtime, and also all three shots in the shootout. The Bruins fired 40 shots at Melville’s Colby Entz.
The teams meet again Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. at Affinity Place in the Bruins home opener.
