The Estevan Bruins intended to use their final preseason game as a tune-up and systems test for their opener against the Melville Millionaires on Friday night. Monday night's game taught them they still have work to do, however.

Minot stormed the Bruins end early and often, putting up goals in the first and last minute of the first period for all the offense they would need in the 5-1 win. The Bruins got just one goal from rookie George Cathers. 

"I didn't think the entire first period was very good," said Bruins head coach and GM Chris Lewgood. 'We didn't work hard enough and there was no structure to our game. We were undisciplined and when you combine those things we were pretty lucky to be down only two."

Minot opened the scoring just 57 seconds in as Taylor Lantz ripped one past Matt Lukacs from the slot. By the end of the period, Andrew Kangas had added a second after powering his way out of the corner, cutting across the crease and tucking in a forehand. 

Estevan had a much better second period as they tightened up both the shot clock and the score clock. Midway through the frame, Cathers walked in from the point on the man advantage and slipped one under the pad of goaltender Nicholas Grabko, who had only just come into the game.

"We were just working it and the puck bounced out after Ripper (Turner Ripplinger) deflected it," Cathers said of his goal."I just put it along the ice and it got through. I was pretty excited about that."

"George sees the ice really well," said Lewgood, explaining why he used the rookie as the fourth forward on the top power play unit. "He's confident with the puck and shoots well." 

Estevan escaped the second period down by just a goal. That wouldn't last, however, as Kangas scored his second of the game at 4-on-4 early in the third. Shortly after, Fritz Belisle shot through a sea of bodies to beat Lukacs glove side and extend the lead. Cathers echoed his coach's sentiment about the team's breakdown. 

"They're a really fast team," Cathers said. "I don't think we were quite ready for their speed. Our structure wasn't there."  

 "Their breakout is really quick, their speed was quick," he added. "I don't think we were prepared for it."

Minot continued to hammer away as penalty trouble dogged the Bruins attempts to claw their way back into it. After missing on several man advantages, including a 5-on-3 in the first, Minot made good with a dagger to make it 5-1. Lantz scored from almost the same spot with a similar shot, bookending his two goal night. 

"First and foremost comes compete level," said Lewgood, "and we got out-competed most of the night. If we're playing as a cohesive unit then we give ourselves a chance but I thought we were individualistic and it was like pond hockey for some of the guys."

Estevan wraps up their preseason with one win, one loss, one overtime loss, and one tie in the rookie game. They will start their regular season on Friday against the Melville Millionaires. 

GAME NOTES

Turner Ripplinger's assist on Cathers's goal was his first point of the preseason. He finished with four PIMS and drew several penalties as well.

TJ Irey and Jayden Davis were held out of the game due to nagging injuries. Chris Lewgood says he expects Irey to be available on Friday, while Davis may have a longer timetable.

The Bruins acquired goaltender Jake Anthony from Nipawin earlier on in the day. Anthony posted a .929 save percentage and a 1.94 GAA last season. He dressed in the game against Minot but did not play.