It's the end of the trail for the TS&M Bantam Bruins and their trek through the 2017-2018 season. Finishing in 7th place in the south division, they snagged a playoff spot, but fell 4-1 in Estevan and 4-3 in Weyburn on Tuesday and Thursday respectively in the first round to the Weyburn Wings.

"It was an effort problem for sure on Tuesday, but the kids brought better effort on Thursday night. A couple seeing-eye goals there that hurt us, so we probably deserved better that night but that's the way hockey goes sometimes," said Head Coach Tom Copeland.

"Weyburn's a big club. We didn't match up well against them, they're kind of a big, veteran club and that top line kind of took it to us. We don't have a lot of answers for kids when we're carrying 9 or 10 first year guys on the ice. Our guys, it just wore them down all the time, and that's probably the difference in the series. That game Thursday night could have gone either way and we could have come home Saturday, but I'm not unhappy with they way we played, it was excellent. It was a good bounce back game."

The bantam squad managed to hold onto their 7th place standing, even through challenges such as injuries and the tragic passing of their assistant coach, Mike Sarada.

"The kids faced a lot of adversity, and it was a test of their character. It didn't go the way they wanted it to, but we're going to keep going. We've got 9 guys going to the Winter Games next week, and then we'll just keep practicing. Just because our special league schedule is over, doesn't mean that the development and stuff doesn't continue. We've got a lot of guys striving to make AAA clubs for next year, so we've gotta keep those guys going, and we're certainly trying to build on our club going into next year too. With all those returnees, we can do a lot of good in the next couple of months," Copeland stated.

Among those hoping to move up in the ranks in minor hockey is forward Turner McMillan, who fought through an injured wrist to wrack up 25 points on the season, and also set the league record for most regular season games played. He will be among the skaters attending the SHA Top 80 camp in April.

"He's had a tough season. He would've wanted to score more, but he did his thing. He's struggled here in the last 10 games or so trying to get pucks in the net. Thursday night I think he hit the post, though he deserved to score, he had a wonderful play."

"When he's at his best, he's probably one of the top defensive forwards in the province, if not the top, and he's brings a lot offensively when he finds that game," Copeland noted.

Turner's objective is to make it onto a AAA Midget team, though he may settle for AA.

"Whoever picks him up, they're picking up a good kid and a good player. He skates well, he shoots well, and when he's not injured he's really good in the faceoff circle. He's very responsible defensively, and so for any coaches at higher levels, those are the kinds of things they're looking for. He's highly coveted in the SJHL draft, I would think for sure."

The Bruins' goaltending has also been up there in talent, with Zane Winter and Jackson Miller filling the net quite well, and Winter holding a league record for games played as a goaltender.

Another 8-10 members of the Bantams will be graduating and moving on to other teams, some to the Midget AA Apex Bruins and others to teams around the province, or further.

"It's the revolving door. We're always moving guys on. We're proud of them, and I think they always make us proud when they move on. It's not easy playing in our league, it's good hockey."

"It's the first real test for kid's mental make up and their character. They don't really realize it, but after this, everything goes a little bit easier," Copeland added.