The new decade started off against an old opponent for the Estevan Bruins, as they hosted their longtime rivals the Weyburn Red Wings on Wednesday, January 1 at Affinity Place. They began the decade the way they'd ended the previous one, thumping the Red Wings 5-2 to sweep the home and home. 

Once again the Bruins got offensive contributions from throughout their lineup with five different goal scorers, while Keenan Rancier turned aside 17 of 19 shots he faced. Jordan Gagnon and Liam Rutten answered for the Red Wings, whom the Bruins outshot 32-19.

Despite an 11-3 shot advantage after the first, the Bruins couldn't solve Joseph Young early, and the Red Wings opened the scoring midway through the second period. Gagnon broke over the Bruins line right as a power play expried, cut into the middle and fired a shot from the top of the umbrella that handcuffed Rancier, making it 1-0.

The Bruins wasted no time responding on a power play of their own as, right off a faceoff, Devan Harrison waited for traffic and fired a shot through the screen past Young for his fourth of the season. The Red Wings responded just under a minute later as Mathieu Belanger took a huge hit to send the Wings in 2-on-1, with Rutten finishing the play off on a pace across by Dace Prymak.

The Bruins tied the score before the period was out, however, with Isaiah Thomas dodging a check on the right wing wall, carrying the puck into the Wings zone, and firing a perfect pass to Tanner Manz, who lifted it past Young. Manz's 11th of the season sent the Bruins into the intermission with the 2-2 tie. 

Finally it was the Bruins turn to take the lead midway through the third, and again their power play got the job done. Tylor Ludwar faked a slap shot and sent the puck to Jayden Davis at the right circle. The captain ripped a one-timer through yet another screen by Brady Nicholas, and the lead was in Bruins hands for the first time. 

The Bruins held the lead well, building on their shot totals and holding the Wings largely to the outside. Weyburn was finally able to pull their goaltender with about 1:40 to play, but Kade McMillen stripped the puck in the right corner and moved laterally across the defensive zone before seeing a lane he liked and potting an empty netter.

Tyson Manz would add another empty net goal when the Wings pulled Young a second time, putting the game totally out of reach. The win not only ties the Bruins in the season series with the Wings, but also puts them just one point back of the final playoff spot in the SJHL, with games in hand on both Notre Dame and Kindersley. The next action for the Bruins is Saturday night at Affinity Place, when they host Melville. Puck drop is 7:30.