The second half of 2017 saw some interesting developments and a lot of interesting events that took place within Estevan and area. Here are only a few of them:
JULY
Gregg Mann won the street stocks event on Canada Day at the Estevan Motor Speedway coming back from a flat tire. Riley Raynard won the hobby stocks and Travis Hagen won the modifieds. Almost a couple of weeks later at the Kupper Chevrolet Dakota Classic Modified Tour, a sudden rainstorm delayed the evening significantly. But the fans who stuck it out – and there were still a lot of them for the modified feature race – saw some new faces pick up the trophies at the end. Johnny Scott of Arroyo Hondo, N.M., won the modifieds race and Ricky Thornton Jr. - normally a modifieds driver – won the stocks race.
The best young golfers in Western Canada were in the field at the Golf Canada Acura FutureLinks Prairie Championship. Ryan McMillan and Chaewon Baek are off to their respective Canadian junior championships after winning the FutureLinks competition.
McMillan, a 17-year-old Winnipeg-based golfer, hit a sizzling 68 Thursday on the final day of the three day tournament. The best local score was Jayden Dudas, 14, who was tied for 18th with a three-day score of 235, 24 strokes behind McMillan. He hit an opening round 73, and had he hit another couple of those he'd be in contention to win at his young age.
The South Energy, a combined team of Estevan Voltz and Weyburn Thrashers, started the provincial peewee box lacrosse tournament with a 4-1 win over the Swift Current Blue. Nathan Wagstaff scored two and Noel Englot and Chase Foord got single goals. In the bronze medal game, the Energy fell 6-4 to the Regina Rush.
The Southeast Performance Pump Twins midget AAA baseball team swept a pair of games against the Northwest Prairie Pirates at Lynne Prime Park just a couple of weeks before provincials. “They were spot on,” said Twins assistant coach Kent Phillips of pitchers Brett MacMurchy and Ryan Gaab. “They hit their spots and they weren't falling behind the batters at all. That's huge when you can jump ahead right away.”
The Estevan Elite squirt girls softball team got some timely good pitching and a consistent effort in making the Saskatchewan Softball Association's Squirt B Girls final at the Pleasantdale Softball Diamonds. Through scorching hot temperatures that went well into the 30s Saturday and Sunday – and occasional water breaks – the Elite lost 15-1 in the final to the Battlefords Bandits, having finally ran out of gas. And there was no discouragement at all from the Elite, no matter what the score was. As is girls softball tradition, the singing and encouraging chanting was nearly constant from the bench as they batted and played the field.
The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins hired Carter Duffin as an assistant coach/marketing manager. “Chris (Lewgood, head coach and general manager) has done a fantastic job over the last few years in building a winning organization,” Duffin said. “And to have the opportunity to come be a part of that really excited me. To gain Chris as a mentor for a young coach like myself is really exciting.”
With only three second-year players and eight rookies, the Southeast Athletics bantam AAA baseball team played down a level after the regular season and found the success that had eluded them against the older AAA players. The Athletics won a silver medal and in the gold medal game, tried to come back but left the tying run on first base to end the game 9-8 for Lloydminster.
The Twins, meanwhile, finished provincials in Estevan without a win but the season was a lot closer than the result would indicate. After a 12-2 opening loss to the Saskatoon Diamondbacks, they suffered an 8-7 loss to the Regina White Sox and a 13-11, nine-inning loss to the Regina Wolfpack. “That was one we had to win and the boys knew it too, and it just wasn't falling for us,” said Twins coach Blaine Kovach of the loss to the White Sox. “Maybe if something different had happened earlier in the tournament, we could have been playing Sunday.” The Saskatoon Cubs won 2-1 over the Muenster Red Sox in the gold medal game.
AUGUST
The Estevan Tower Wolves won the Saskota League title with a successful Harbourne Cup tournament victory. The gold medal game was against the Oxbow Chiefs. In two games against each other in the regular season, the Tower Wolves had outscored the Chiefs 20-10 and won both games. The Tower Wolves defeated the Oxbow 6-5 in the Harbourne Cup final.
Local motocross racers only had the one stop of their circuit in Estevan this year, but well over 100 came out to enjoy the hot day at the track, according to organizers.
“We had about 140 entries,” said local organizer Bryce Friess of the South Corner Racing Circuit event, which took place at the track a few kilometres southeast of the city.
Brett MacMurchy of the Southeast Performance Pump Twins midget AAA team announced he’d accepted a scholarship with Williston State College, to play with the Tetons. “When I was down there for the Williston tournament recently this summer, I pitched and their coach (Shawn Cote) watched me,” said MacMurchy. “He gave me a spot on the team almost instantly and he said that he uses four starting pitchers, and those starting pitchers were all rookies that year. But next year they're all going to be back again. He said I could be very useful coming out of the bullpen or if I wanted to try an infield position or an outfield position he'd let me give that a shot too.”
The Estevan Golden Eels hosted Southern Saskatchewan Speed Swimming competition at the RM of Estevan Aquatic Centre. The team had the most points in the race and plenty of swimmers qualified for provincials the following weekend in Watrous. “I was really excited but I was also kind of nervous,” said Adah DeLeeuw, who qualified for the 50m butterfly, 100m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 50m freestyle, 200m individual medley in the 13-14 year old girls category with her placings in Estevan.
The three-day Frametech Classic at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course was won by Jay Thiesen of Brandon, Man. Thiesen has a three day score of 70-80-70 to win the tournament. The popular Dave Price Memorial Horse Race during the tournament was won by Estevan’s Daryl Donovan. “It's just coming out and paying tribute to a great member of our course here who tragically left us too soon, and just trying to play the best golf and trying to do your best,” said Donovan after leaving the 18th green.
While it's only a part of most of the rodeo circuit, locally a big event of the summer is the Fountain Tire Barrel Racing X, which took place at the Estevan Exhibition Grounds.
“It went very smoothly,” said event organizer Lindsay Collins. “We were extremely happy with everything from the sponsors to the number of contestants that came out. It was a great turnout.”
Nolan Rohatyn won the Woodlawn Golf Course’s 2017 men’s championship with a two-day total of 145, while Meghan Betner won the women’s title with a two-day score of 164.
After a very successful inaugural season, the Southside Slammers U16 girls softball team won the consolation final at nationals in Delta. B.C. They went to the consolation side after a 1-5 round robin. “There, we played Calgary Kaizen first game and we beat them 6-0,” Slammers coach Trent Walter said. “Then, in the final against Manitoba Thunder, we beat them 5-4 in an extra inning. We fought our way back and we ended up strong at the end.”
The Penta Completions Estevan Minor Football season got underway with registration and handing out equipment. League president Paul Duncan expected a 10 per cent increase in numbers for the year. “We've had some years where it's been pretty scarce for players,” Duncan said. “But now, I think the bantam team, which has always been the program that's had the least amount of kids, I think we have 26-27. We had been sitting around that 20-21 mark.”
Championship night at the Estevan Motor Speedway saw the titles handed out after a year of close standings a the top of the categories. Zach Lutz won the hobby stocks, Gregg Mann won the street stocks and Joey Galloway won the modifieds. “These guys seem to find something a little extra,” Estevan’s Mann said. “The track's been unreal and I give credit to the guys that have been working on the track. It really throws some grip to it.”
SEPTEMBER
Hundreds of people came out for both days of rodeo Labour Day long weekend at the Canadian Cowboys Association Rodeo at the Estevan Exhibition Grounds. Stands were packed for all of the events, and participation was high for all of the weekend’s events at the Exhibition Grounds. Cowboys and cowgirls were trying to earn cash and points for the annual CCA Finals rodeo and entertained the local crowd while doing so.
The Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs football team played a controlled scrimmage with the Weyburn Eagles. The teams agreed to play two or three 10-play drives, with no special teams and no blitzing or hitting the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. This allowed the coaches to see the offence and defence for extended periods of time.
Two days of rain in the Estevan area turned the Enduro Race at the Estevan Motor Speedway into a war of attrition – with very few able to survive without getting caught. The race, which features 150 laps or an hour and a half of racing with no one allowed from the previous Estevan Motor Speedway racing season in the hobby stocks, street stocks or modifieds, is the annual year-end event at the track, but few of those could possibly have been muddier. “A win is a win. Two years in a row, too,” said race winner Dwain McKnight. “You had to just run the high line, that's all you can do. Find the groove and stay to it as best you can.”
The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins swept the Melville Millionaired to kick off the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League season winning 4-2 at Affinity Place and 5-1 in Melville. “We didn't play that well tonight, but once we get all three or four lines going, we're going to be a deadly team,” Bruin forward Michael McChesney said after their 4-2 win. “I think with a successful pre-season guys were expecting things to come a little easier and it was just a reminder not to get down on yourselves and manage your emotions. For the most part, I thought the guys had the right mindset,” said Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood.
The Estevan Minor Box Lacrosse Association handed out its awards. Codie Lemcke was the female player of the year, while the male player of the year was Nathan Wagstaff.
Estevan Comprehensive School’s Jace Carlisle won the high school golf provincials with a 75-73-148 score over two days at TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course. “I was putting really good,” he said. “With my short game, I was hitting the ball good.” The school’s boys and girls teams also won the gold medal among the teams.
OCTOBER
Football Day in Estevan was a huge success, getting fans of all four teams involved in the action at Woodlawn Athletic Field. The atom Power Dodge Cudas, peewee Century 21 Chargers and bantam Estevan Lions Club Oilers joined the Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs Saturday in games against out of town competition, plus fundraising from the Southern Plains Co-op. Estevan Minor Football is sponsored this year by Penta Completions. “They donated $10,000 for us this year and signed a deal to do $10,000 for us for five years,” said Paul Duncan, minor football president and head coach of the Oilers. “It's great for the team sponsors and for us to be able to recognize them.”
The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins rode into the Thanksgiving weekend in a stingy mood. They were the first team to hand the Melfort Mustangs – previously ranked third in the CJHL – a loss this season after a 3-2 decision at Affinity Place. The win set the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League team in an ebulient mood heading into the weekend. “They were big, they were fast, they were strong and they knew how to play their system,” said defenceman Johnny Witzke of the Mustangs.
The Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs football season ended in the first round of the playoffs with a 49-6 loss to the 5-1 Moose Jaw Peacock Tornadoes. Peacock took an early 21-0 lead at halftime and expanded on it in the third and fourth quarters. With the score 49-0 and with less than three minutes on the clock, Hunter Eagles ran 73 yards for a touchdown for the Elecs only score of the game.
The TS&M Bruins played maybe their best game of the season so far, in a home battle with the Prairie Storm. But the 2-2 tie with the Lightning in Saskatchewan Bantam AA Hockey League action was all they could muster in a weekend where they also lost twice. “This is a big step in the right direction,” said Bruins head coach Tom Copeland.
It's hoped a touch of volunteer fever will sweep the Estevan community as organizers get ready for the 2018 SaskTel Tankard later this winter. The campaign for volunteers began, with instructions to help out people who may wish to join the campaign. The Tankard hasn't always been the volunteer-heavy event but this time it's different. “It's been (at least) 15 years since Estevan last hosted it,” said Pauline Ziehl-Grimsrud, sponsorship committee chair. “And the fact is … it was in the Civic Auditorium and now we've got a first rate facility. We want to show off Affinity Place.”
It took seven games, but the Apex midget AA Bruins finally got their first win of the season. The team lost a pair of games on the road Friday and Saturday but came back from being down early 2-0 to win 6-3 over the Regina Capitals. “It was a rough start and not the ideal one we wanted, especially with the way the last few games have gone,” said Bruins head coach Robin Ulrich.
The board of directors at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course has relieved general manager Travis Merritt of his duties. Golf course president Jeff Ward confirmed the information in a phone conversation with the Mercury last week. “At this time the board has decided that Travis Merritt's skill set did not align with the club’s vision moving forward,” Ward said in an email to the Mercury, explaining why they let him go.
The ECS Elecs were always going to have a hard time being able to compete against the best girls soccer teams from some of the biggest schools in the province and they indeed had a rough couple of games. But the season can only be considered a success given that most of the team had spent years away from the pitch and had to re-learn aspects of how to play the game. The Elecs lost 11-0 to Regina O'Neill in their second and final game after a 7-0 loss to the Swift Current Ardens knocked them out of contention for the title. “We didn't have the outcome we wanted here at provincials but they have won games this season and they have scored goals,” head coach Stacy Murphy said.
NOVEMBER
The season's first victory came at home for the bantam A Bear Cats female hockey team. They split a pair of games last weekend with the Regina Bisons at their home rink in Carlyle, losing 6-4 Saturday but coming through with a 4-1 win Sunday in South Saskatchewan Female Bantam A Hockey League action.
The ECS Elecs senior girls volleyball team knocked out a serious provincial contender but couldn't get to provincials themselves either.
Needing to win just one of their final two games after upsetting the Moose Jaw Peacock Toilers in three sets, the Elecs were close to making provincials this year but fell just a bit short. “Our season's kind of been like a roller coaster,” said Elecs head coach Nicole Sinclair. The Elecs lost 25-19 and 25-20 to Swift Current in the final match.
After some early struggles with consistency this season, the Estevan Power Tech Bear Cats have been putting some wins together this season. The Bear Cats won four in a row in South Saskatchewan Female Midget AA Hockey League action, including a last pair at home over the Parkland Lions. They won 4-1 and 3-2 at Affinity Place. “When we play quick, and we get on the puck, we create turnovers and create scoring opportunities,” said Bear Cats head coach Trevor Morrison.
The ECS Elecs football team will have a very good future indeed if their younger players continue on their successful track. Hunter Eagles won the team's most valuable player award and top offensive player — no mean feat for a Grade 9 in his first year of high school football. “I was hoping to get a little bit (of playing time) but I wasn't expecting to get nearly as much as I got,” said Eagles, who scored 50 of the team's 82 points on the season through touchdowns and conversions and averaged 79 yards rushing and 60 yards receiving per game.
The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins won 6-3 over the Humboldt Broncos on Teddy Bear Toss night at Affinity Place, with Arthur Miller's goal at 17:21 sending the crowd into cheers and the bears and stuffed animals on the ice. And the Bruins didn't stop scoring until newest team member Jayden Davis notched an empty net goal with 1:20 left on the clock.
While the Saskatchewan Roughriders came up short against the Toronto Argonauts in the East Conference Final, the Estevan Apex Bruins defeated the Notre Dame Argos 5-4 in overtime in South Saskatchewan Midget AA Hockey League action, putting the Bruins in a three-way tie for first place. Jaiden Gervais' marker at 2:27 of the extra frame gave the Bruins the win.
Photographer/ business owner/stock car driver Byron Fichter was chosen to be the president of the Estevan Motor Speedway and will be able to apply his vision to the speedway for the 2018 season. This will be Fichter's fourth year on the EMS board but first as president.
DECEMBER
Regina’s Scott Bitz wasn’t hoping for such an early qualification into the 2018 SaskTel Tankard but he’ll take it anyway. His 5-1 victory over Regina’s Randy Bryden rink sealed the win for Bitz, who curls out of the Saskatoon Sutherland Club, at the Power Dodge Curling Centre’s Saskatchewan Curling Tour (SCT) Bonspiel. Among those who have qualified for the Tankard is Estevan’s Brent Gedak.
While the Lumsden/Bethune Lions came to Estevan to take on the Apex Bruins in South Saskatchewan Midget AA Hockey League action, both teams were a bit owly.
The Bruins had lost 6-0 the previous night to the Yorkton Terriers at Affinity Place and the Lions had their tails clipped by the Weyburn Wings 8-1 in Weyburn. Neither team had much reason to smile but the Bruins were the ones who came out on top in a 5-3 victory.
The Estevan Bantam Bears hockey team won all but one game in their home tournament. The Bears took the bronze medal game over the Estevan Knights 4-1 at the Power Dodge Ice Centre. In all, 24 games were played at four rinks in the area, including four games at Bienfait and one in Torquay.
The Estevan Westmoreland Bruins peewee AA hockey team lost 6-3 and 10-5 at home to the Swift Current Broncos at Affinity Place in their first home games since October. The game was out of hand for the Bruins late but the players didn’t give up trying to score and played well.
Several athletes from the southeast have been chosen to play on the Sask Winter Games’ hockey teams in a couple of months. The girls team for Team Southeast will have a lot of representation from the Estevan area, with defenceman Karleigh Mackenzie, forward Bailey Farr and Kayla Wanner making the team from Estevan. The three girls play on the Power Tech midget Bear Cats. The Parkland Valley team for the Games will also have Brynn Kuntz on defence. Kuntz plays for the Bear Cats. The boys team also has some players from the local bantam AA team. Goaltender Jackson Miller, forwards Kaden Chrest and Mason Fichter are all from Estevan and play on the TS&M Bruins. Forwards Mason Kukura from Bienfait and Colby Cuddington from Manor are also on the Bruins and will be on Team Southeast. Bromhead’s Colby Durr and defenceman Alec Waldegger from Estevan have played games for the Bruins as affiliated players earlier this year.
The Candace Chisholm rink out of Carlyle – which includes Estevan’s Kristy Johnson — was one of two qualifying teams at the Viterra Last Chance Qualifier at the Power Dodge Curling Centre. It was the first year with the team for Johnson, who curls alongside third Lana Vey and second Natalie Bloomfield, but they’ve all had experience playing together before in different formations.
Some millionaires aren’t particularly known for being all that generous, but the Melville Millionaires and the Power Dodge Estevan Bruins handed each other 4-2 wins in each other’s buildings in their last games before the Christmas break.
“Obviously it’s pretty big and we had a great turnout tonight fanwise,” said captain Jake Fletcher. “Everyone’s pretty excited to go home on break but these two games are important divisional games.
