The Estevan Bruins suffered their first loss of the season on Friday night as a big, nasty Kindersley squad exploded for seven goals against the Bruins.

Kindersley had scored just two goals in the three games prior to the matchup with Estevan, but they matched that total in the first period, as Cody Hodgson scored twice in the opening frame, once on an early power play and once during four-on-four action. Hayden Guilderson replied for Estevan in the first frame.

The Bruins got off to a promising start in the second, as Isaac Embree batted one in out of mid-air to knot the game at two in the early going.

That was the high point of the 2nd period for Estevan, however. Kindersley would rattle off two quick goals to chase goaltender Matt Lenz. Just over a minute later, the Klippers fired another goal on his replacement Matt Luckas.

The Bruins surrendered an early goal in the third, but Jake Fletcher quickly responded to make it 6-3 Kindersley.

The captain’s first of the year sparked the Bruins, who got back to business and tucked two more past the Klippers as Michael McChesney kept his hot streak alive. Guilderson added his second of the game to get the Bruins back to within one with just over a minute remaining in regulation.

That, however, was as close as the Bruins got, and the game ended 7-5 in favor of the home squad despite a late flurry by Estevan with the net empty.

The Bruins will have no time to dwell on the loss as they head to Battlefords tomorrow to take on the North Stars. Rock 106 will have all the action starting at 7:30, with a 7:20 pre-game.

BRUINS HIGHLIGHTS: