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Midget AA Bruins sweep their way to the next round

The Estevan Apex midget AA Bruins have advanced to the South Division semifinal in the Saskatchewan Minor AA Hockey League’s playoffs. Estevan defeated the Regina Rangers 5-0 Feb.
AA Bruins
Kaden Chrest (27) of the midget AA Bruins skates past a couple of Regina Rangers defenders Sunday afternoon at Affinity Place.

The Estevan Apex midget AA Bruins have advanced to the South Division semifinal in the Saskatchewan Minor AA Hockey League’s playoffs.

Estevan defeated the Regina Rangers 5-0 Feb. 23 at Affinity Place to sweep the best-of-five first round series in three straight games.

The first half of the opening period in Game 3 was scoreless, but then Cale Adams, Joey Meredith and Trey Stovin scored less than three minutes apart to give Estevan a 3-0 lead. Kaden Chrest and Kieran Stewart added goals two minutes apart before the midway mark of the second period to dash any hopes Regina had of a comeback.

Coach Riley Hengen said it was important to get those early goals, especially since two of them were on the power play, where the midget AAs struggled in the first two games.

“It was just a boost to our team, and we didn’t look back after that,” said Hengen.

Logan Nagel stopped 23 shots to get the shutout win for Estevan, and Cade Bendtsen had three assists in the victory.

“I thought we played well all three games,” said Hengen. “There were times where there was some chippiness to the series, but I thought we did a good job of playing disciplined and stuck to our game.”

The midget AA Bruins had the best record in the league in the regular season with a 31-3-1-1 mark.

They opened their first round series against the Rangers with a 3-2 victory Feb. 19 in Estevan.

James Mann scored the winning goal with 9:38 to play in the third period, 28 seconds after the Rangers had tied the game.

Tayce Miller and Tanner Stovin had Estevan’s other goals. Both came in the first period and gave Estevan a 2-0 lead.

Nagel had 23 saves in the win.

“Their goalie played really well, and Regina played well,” said Hengen. “In the playoffs, anybody can beat anybody, so we just need to be prepared every single game.”

Game 2 was a 5-1 victory Feb. 21 in Regina. Miller scored in the first period, and after the Rangers tied it up in the second, Clay McKersie, Adams, Chrest and Meredith scored in a 3 1/2-minute span of the second to help Estevan pull away.

Jackson Miller stopped eight shots for the win.

Hengen said he is looking forward to having a week off and giving the players a chance to rest some nagging injuries.

The midget AAs next opponent has yet to be determined.

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The Estevan TS&M bantam AA Bruins dropped both of their games in league play, 7-0 to Yorkton on Feb. 21 and 14-1 to the Saskatoon Maniacs on Feb. 22.

Zack McGillicky had the Bruins lone goal on the weekend.

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The Estevan Meter peewee AA Bruins had their season come to an end on the weekend when they were swept in a best-of-three quarter-final series by the Moose Jaw Warriors.

The first game was one of the Bruins best this season, a 4-3 loss to the Warriors in double overtime in Moose Jaw.

The two teams were tied after the first period, with Kobe Wotta scoring for Estevan in the first period, and it was still 1-1 through two periods.

Conrad Hase scored for Estevan early in the third, but then Moose Jaw scored twice to take the lead. Wotta scored his second of the game with 57 seconds to play in the third to tie the game again.

The Warriors scored the winner six minutes into the second extra time.

Amy Swayze was in goal for the game.

Game 2 was a 7-2 loss at Affinity Place. Payton Phillips and Gunner Moore scored in the first and second periods, respectively, to leave Estevan down by a goal, but Moose Jaw pulled away.

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The Estevan Western Star Signature Hotel atom tier 1 Bruins are now into the playoffs. They lost 4-3 to the Melville Millionaires on Feb. 23 in their regular season finale. They are playing Melville once again in a best-of-three quarter-final series.

Game 1 was slated for Feb. 25 in Estevan.