Highlights: 

It wasn’t the way they drew it up, or even the way the script was heading at the start of the third period, but some shootout heroics earned the Estevan Bruins two points in Weyburn on February 23.

Jake Tesarowski scored in regulation and the shootout, and Michael McChesney added a shootout tally of his own and the Bruins beat the Weyburn Red Wings for the sixth time this season, this time by a 5-4 count.

It looked like the win would come far easier than it did, as Estevan led 4-1 entering the third period and was drastically outshooting the Red Wings 35-16. TJ Irey got things started in the first period on the power play at 3:31 of the first period. With Wings captain Mike Eskra off for hooking on Kaelan Holt, Irey parked himself in the slot and took a pass from McChesney as he lost himself in coverage. Irey wasted no time rifling a shot low and hard past Arik Weersink.

Weersink had very little chance on the second goal, a truly unusual marker off a Jayden Davis slap shot that bounced off several bodies in front, including Zach Goberis, and changed directions at least twice before pinballing its way past a thoroughly bewildered Weersink. It wasn’t the prettiest goal of Goberis’s season, but it was his 30th of the campaign.

Jerzy Martin added his fifth of the campaign with a highlight reel move to make it 3-0. Martin cut through centre and dangled his way past two Red Wings defensemen, slipping past them and firing a shot low-blocker on Weersink.

Weyburn would get back within two in the second as Jesse Young took a pass from a streaking Eskra and ripped it off the rush past Matt Lukacs from the bottom of the right circle. The Bruins soon restored their three-goal lead, however, as during a four-on-four Tesarowski crept in from the blue line and shook off his check, cashing in a back-door dish from Jake Heerspink to make it 4-1.

In the third, Estevan saw their lead slowly evaporate, however, as Weyburn steadily chipped away at them. Connor Pyne started things off for the Red Wings, taking a between-the-legs pass from Dexter Robinson in the slot and finishing it off to get the Wings back within two. From there Cade Kowalski scored on the power play with a crafty wrist shot, and Ben Hiltz rifled the equalizer past Lukacs with the net empty.

Overtime saw frantic play at both ends, with Lukacs making four consecutive saves on a Weyburn 2-on-0 and McChesney very nearly ending the game in the dying moments of OT only to be stopped by Weersink’s toe. McChesney was not to be denied in the shootout, however, as he opened up Weersink’s five-hole with a nifty backhand-forehand move. His goal, which came after Tesarowski opened the scoring in the shootout, was the last one as Lukacs stopped both Kowalski and Hiltz in the penalty shot contest.
Estevan has their next game lined up at home against Notre Dame on Tuesday, February 27. They also play Weyburn on Friday, March 2 in Weyburn to wrap up the season series.

GAME NOTES

Estevan moves to 6-1-0 on the year against Weyburn. This was the first contest between the two teams to require overtime.

Zach Goberis becomes the third player in the SJHL and the first Estevan Bruin to hit 30 goals. He leads the team with 30 goals and 40 assists on the year.

Aigne McGeady-Bruce was the only Bruins player to register more than a single point, as he drew the second assist on the opening two goals. He has 7 of his 16 points on the year in seven games vs. Weyburn.

Estevan moves six points up on Weyburn for the division lead with a game in hand. The two team will meet once more on the season. Estevan, having won the season series, owns the tiebreaker should the two teams finish with the same number of points.