The Estevan Bruins met their toughest test of the series so far against the Kindersley Klippers on March 21, and came out bruised and banged up but victorious.

A goal early in the third period by Kaelan Holt stood up as the winner, and Michael McChesney and Jake Fletcher also scored as Estevan took a 3-2 win in the fourth and final game against the Klippers to complete the sweep.

Bo Didur made 32 saves on 34 shots, including some circus saves late to preserve the lead. Although Kindersley played their best game yet and got two power play goals, it wasn’t enough to save their season.

HIGHLIGHTS 

McChesney started the scoring early in the first period, breaking into the zone down the right wing side and wiring a shot high to the short side on Justen Close to open the scoring. It was McChesney’s third goal of the series.

Estevan expanded their lead midway through the first as Fletcher scored his second power play goal in two games. Cutting his way along the ringette line, when Fletcher hit the middle of the ice he unleashed a wrist shot of his own high-glove on Close to put the Bruins up by a pair.

The Bruins lead didn’t survive the second period. Off a scramble on the power play, Nik Malenica slid the puck over to Tanner Thompson, who fired a puck into the open side for his first of the playoffs. Then, on another Klippers man advantage, Malenica scored one of his own, redirecting a point shot off of Johnny Witzke, off of the post, and past Didur.

Following a third period power play, the Bruins got a lead they would never surrender as Kaelan Holt fired a shot from the same spot as Fletcher earlier, but unlike his captain he shot low blocker and fooled Close to give Estevan the lead.

The Klippers, who saved their best game of the series for the last, refused to go quietly. They peppered Didur late and forced him to make some highlight-reel saves. These included a post-to-post lunge in the dying seconds and a desperate swing of his blocker to rob Keillan Olson on the doorstep with mere moments left in the game.

Estevan held on for the win and became the first team in the SJHL to win their first round series, joined just minutes later by Battlefords as they swept Weyburn after a double overtime win. The Bruins now await the outcomes of the other series to see who they will face in round two.

GAME NOTES

Hayden Guilderson left the game after a late, high hit by Noah Turanski that earned Turanski an interference minor. He did not return, and there is no update on his status. He has never missed an SJHL game before.

Michael McChesney’s goal extended his series-long point streak. He has fifteen points in 13 career playoff games, including three goals six points in four games this year.

Bo Didur finished the first round with a .960 save percentage and surrendered just five goals in four games for a 1.25 GAA. He was runner up for goaltender of the week prior to the two games in Kindersley.