In just over one week the Power Dodge Estevan Bruins will hit the ice at Affinity Place to open up their 2017-18 season against the Melville Millionaires. Before that happens, Bruins Head Coach and General Manager Chris Lewgood has some tough decisions to make.

"It's sort of a shortened preseason this year so we're rolling right along and treating it sort of as an extended training camp," explained Lewgood. After the game against Wayway we have a pretty good idea of what we have here and we're going to further dissect things in the two games against Weyburn and it will allow us to make some decisions for our line up."

"We've got decisions to make and we have to dress the line up to match what we have to do to make those decisions. At the end of the day we have to worry about our process and making some of these tough decisions"

After winning the division for the first time in ten years last season and making it to the third round, the Bruins will see many of the same players return to this years line up. As of right now, question marks surround the Bruins situation in goal with Nathan Alalouf gone to university and veteran Curtis Meger battling for a spot with the Western Hockey League's Prince Albert Raiders.

Of the four goalies left in camp, Matthew Lenz saw 20 minutes of action last year with the Bruins when he took the net in a relief situation.

"We're now down to four goaltenders in camp with Tyler Szturm, Maxim Sidelnik, Matthew Lenz and Matt Lukacs and as of right now nothings set in stone."

Lewgood also had nothing but great things to say about the rookie game in Wilcox and the pool of future prospects.

"The rookie game is always fun against Notre Dame. It's good to see the guys that are competing for a spot in the line up this year but its just as exciting to see the future of the team at work. Some young guys found a way to step up and show that the future of the Estevan Bruins is bright. It's been a long time since we've lost one of those rookie games against Notre Dame, pretty excited about the group we have on our list coming down the pipeline."

Preseason action continues this weekend with a home and home series against the Weyburn Redwings starting on Friday, September 8th at 7:30 inside Affinity Place. Rob Mahon will have the call on Rock 106 with the pregame show starting at 7:20.