The Estevan Meter peewee AA Bruins are sometimes able to score in bunches this year, which was just what they needed Sunday.
The Bruins won two games over the weekend against the Melville Millionaires, including a 4-3 come-from-behind victory Sunday at Power Dodge Ice Centre (PDIC) in Saskatchewan Peewee AA Hockey League action. The Bruins were down 3-0 in the third before a flurry of goals late in the final frame.
“We knew the kids had it in them,” said Bruins head coach Aren Miller, whose team has now won five in a row. “We had a good first 15 minutes, we just weren’t capitalizing … but I honestly didn’t think they’d come back and win 4-3 in dramatic fashion. But it was just about getting to the net.”
It’s hard to come back when you’re in the penalty box, Miller said, and the Bruins took a few minors in the second as they started to fall behind. They didn’t take any in the third, and Chase Robertson’s goal 4:43 into the period seemed to spark a change in momentum. Carter Onrait scored at 14:30, then Turner Knockaert put one in at 15:24 and Turner Jacobson scored the game winner at 15:49.
Ryder Davidson picked up the win in net.
“We were playing (at least) five on five in the final 20 minutes and we were able to take back momentum,” Miller said. “In this age group, momentum is such a big thing. We regained it and pretty much had it that whole third period.”
The balance in scoring is something that was also impressive to see on the Bruins, particularly as most of the goals were just a result of players crashing the net.
“We told them we had to do a better job of getting to the net. There’s lots of rebounds there, and someone’s just got to get there to bang them in,” said Miller. “We don’t rely on one or two kids to score goals. We rely on everybody and I think that’s why we’re having success right now.”
At the peewee level, most teams only have one or two top scorers but the Bruins have a handful that can score any night.
The practices have also been going well, Miller said.
“Our kids really bought in last weekend and I think (this) weekend started in Arcola with how hard the kids worked,” he said. “That was the best practice we’ve had all year by far and now we’ve got to keep that going in practice.
Saturday’s game was much more decisive with a 4-1 win, although they didn’t score until the second period. Ryker Mathison and Mathias Fornwald scored in the second, with Mathison and Jacobson – into an empty net – scoring in the third. Ty Fehrenbach got the win in net.
The next action for the Bruins will be Saturday and Sunday against the Yorkton Terriers at the PDIC.
