Home, sweet home for the Estevan Meter Bruins meant a solid win over tough opposition in Saskatchewan Peewee AA Hockey League action Sunday.
The Bruins (4-4-1) won 4-3 over the Melville Millionaires (5-4-1) in their first league game at Affinity Place this season.
After watching their schoolmates and former teammates battle it out in the city’s peewee tournament, the AA Bruins seemed inspired to impress just as much. Nonetheless, the win over Melville was a big deal for the Bruins as Melville was the first place team in the league going into the game.
“I think it’s huge and it just gives our guys more confidence and we had some trouble on the benches trying to keep up with some matching but I think it’s huge,” said Bruins head coach Aren Miller. “We’re as good as any team in the league and we just proved it beating the best team in the league here. It’s nice getting home, for sure.”
Miller said the team worked hard and the win should give them a boost of confidence.
Carter Onrait scored a pair, with Kade Phillips scoring the other, as the teams entered the third period tied 3-3.
“Playing at home, you’re just more motivated because it’s your own barn,” Onrait said.
But it was Mason Barta who broke the deadlock, assisted by Phillips, and the team handled the pressure the rest of the way. Phillips’ snap shot hit the Melville goaltender high and Barta jumped on a rebound to stuff it in for the eventual game-winner.
“We want two people down low and then banging in pucks and crashing the net, and getting good low hard shots on the net for a rebound,” Onrait said.
Ryder Davidson stopped 27 shots in the win.
The Bruins’ other recent league game was a 3-3 draw with the Yorkton Terriers (4-1-1), the team with the best winning percentage in the league. The standings are tight with only six points separating first from sixth. The Bruins are getting good results against some of the top teams in the league.
Now that they’ve got confidence the Bruins can work on other aspects of their game.
“I think it’s a lot of special teams stuff,” said Miller. “Even (Sunday) there was a lot of power play stuff and you’re continuously working on that. Both our goalies have been playing good.”
The Bruins were also scheduled to play at Weyburn Tuesday. The result was unavailable at press time. Their next scheduled home game is Sunday at 2:45 against Moose Jaw (2-5-2).
