The Estevan Bruins came with their best effort of the last three games but the result in the win-loss department was the same as before against the Humboldt Broncos on Saturday, October 6. 

Brayden Camrud scored twice for Humboldt on the power play and added two assist as the Broncos beat the Bruins 5-3 in a game so filled with penalties that hardly any of it was played at five-on-five. Michael McChesney scored twice and Jayden Davis added another for the Bruins. 

For the Bruins, the effort was far superior to that in their previous two losses, but the puck luck and the officiating were not on their side. 

"The biggest thing we take away from this game was how well we played for most of the game," said Bruins head coach and GM Chris Lewgood. "I thought our details were a lot better today than they have been really in any of the other games this season. We took some penalties we couldn't afford to take and made some mistakes that cost us but there were a ton of bounces that went against us."

The Bruins did take some penalties they couldn't afford, surrendering three power play goals, but replay showed the penalties they took often weren't penalties at all. New Bruin Bryce Platt was called for goaltender interference after a Bronco player hit Platt, bounced off, and struck his own goalie. 

All told the officials handed out 19 power plays, 12 of which went to the Broncos. Over half the game was played at special teams. 

"There's no way to play a regular hockey game under those circumstances," Lewgood said. "There were probably 2000 people here tonight and they can't have enjoyed that element of the game. The good news is it doesn't happen very often."

The Broncos got off to a 2-0 lead in the first period with goals by Riker Franczak and Camrud. Estevan bounced back to knot the score at two, however, with McChesney tipping home a point shot by Bronson Adams to get Estevan on the board in the second, and Davis following up a rush by George Cathers and whacking home a rebound.

"I gave Ripper (Turner Ripplinger) a look off the draw and he made a nice play just to drop it to Bronson," McChesney said of his goal. "Bronson just put the puck right on my tape and I put it straight upstairs."

The tie game was not to last, however, as Josh Patrician struck on another Humboldt power play after an extended five-on-three for the Broncos. Jake Anthony made several sprawling saves, but Patrician beat him from the high slot with a shot that went off the post and crossbar before going in.

The Broncos expanded their lead in the third as Camrud rifled a shot on the man advantage from the top of the left circle past Anthony. Luke Lonneman then finished off a perfectly executed 3-on-2 rush to round out Humboldt's scoring.

McChesney got Estevan back within two, firing a shot from the point that snuck through a maze of bodies and just inside the post on Broncos goalie Rayce Ramsey. That, however, was as close as Estevan got. 

The Bruins comeback hopes were greatly hindered by two penalties on McChesney, both on clean hits. McChesney threw a crushing hit in neutral ice on Mitchell Girolami but was called for charging, even though his feet weren't moving. Then he was given five and a game for a head shot on Michael Clarke, despite not making contact with Clarke's head. 

"I'm pretty sure his head hit the glass," McChesney said. "I don't think I hit his head at all. I hit him with my back so I can't really say where I hit him exactly but it's not like I jumped at him or threw an elbow at him." 

The Bruins fall to 4-5 on the year and are below .500 on the campaign. Their next game is against La Ronge on Wednesday, October 10 at home. 

GAME NOTES

Bryce Platt made his Bruins debut and finished pointless with three minor penalties. He played primarily on a line with Michael McChesney and Turner Ripplinger.

Ripplinger took over the team scoring lead with 15 points in nine games, passing TJ Irey who did not play due to a lower body injury.

The two teams combined for 127 penalty minutes, including multiple ten minute misconducts. The five-minute penalty to McChesney carries an automatic supsension due to the time at which it occured in the last five minutes of the third period. 

The Bruins drop their third straight game for the first time since November of 2017. They lost to Flin-Flon, Melfort, and Yorkton in succession. They also fall below .500 for the first time all year. They did not fall below .500 in 2017-18 at any point.