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Bruins too strong for Hounds

The Estevan Apex midget AA Bruins used speed and physical play to beat the South Saskatchewan Minor Hockey League’s first place Notre Dame Bantam Hounds 7-2 at Affinity Place on Sunday.
apex bruins morrison jan 2016
Apex Bruin Mitchell Morrison gets a shot off on Bantam Hounds goaltender Joe Macdonald during the third period of Estevan's 7-5 win over Notre Dame.

The Estevan Apex midget AA Bruins used speed and physical play to beat the South Saskatchewan Minor Hockey League’s first place Notre Dame Bantam Hounds 7-2 at Affinity Place on Sunday.

The Bruins (19-8-6) came out flying in the first period hitting the Hounds (24-4-1) hard on the forecheck, while taking away their time and space. After the first 20 minutes, the Bruins held a 2-0 lead on markers by Brady Long and captain Wyatt Bayliss. The second period saw Estevan jump out to a 4-0 lead on power play goals by Preston Brodziak and Colton Winton, before Notre Dame replied with the man advantage on a seeing-eye point shot from Kersey Reich.

The Hounds’ Kyle Petten made the score 4-2 a little over three minutes into a chippy third period that saw each club engage physically, but the Bruins replied quickly on scores from Bayliss, Brodziak and Mitchell Morrison. Estevan’s Cam Lavoie earned the win between the pipes, while Joe Macdonald recorded the loss.

“We’re second place (and) they’re first place, so it’s a battle,” said Bruins head coach Blake Jamieson. “I wouldn’t say a dislike (exists between the teams). It’s just we’re trying to send a message to them that we’re coming for first place.”

The win over the Bantam Hounds came one day after the Bruins earned a 3-1 road win over the Regina Capitals, and two days after falling 3-2 in Yorkton to the Kinsmen Terriers. Jamieson said moving forward they’ll try and forget about the loss and instead focus on what they did well in the wins.

The Bruins second place showing in the standings this late in the season comes from a strong past two months for the club that saw them go 11-2-2 beginning with a 8-1 win over the Regina Vics on Dec. 5 at Affinity Place.

“We’ve just been improving every day,” said Jamieson. “Some nights we have trouble scoring goals, but we’re (still) able to find the back of the net. So, (it’s) just hard work and putting in a good effort.”