The attention of local sports fans once again shifted to the indoors, and to ice and courts, in the fall, but there was plenty of activity on all sporting fronts in the final four months of the year.
September:
Estevan’s Aaron Turnbull won the John Seitz Memorial Championship race Sept. 7 at Rivers City Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D. It was a 92-lap feature that carried a top prize of $9,200. He finished a little more than a second ahead of A.J. Diemel of Elk Mound, Wisc. Turnbull took the lead for the first time on the 18th lap, and while there were several lead changes, he led for much of the race.
Another local driver, Austin Daae, made it to the main stock car feature race at IMCA Super Nationals in Boone, Iowa. Super Nationals brings top dirt track drivers from across the U.S. and Canada together in several different classes. Nearly 200 stock car drivers were entered, and Daae was one of 31 to make it to the feature. He was as high as fifth at one point, but fell back to 22nd after running over debris.
The Estevan Bruins opened the 2019-20 season with a 2-0 loss to the host Weyburn Red Wings on Sept. 13. But much of the discussion during and after the game was on the Bruins new road uniforms, which were virtually all white for the jerseys, pants, socks and gloves. The shade of yellow for the numbers and player names made it very difficult to identify the players.
The Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) Elecs senior boys volleyball team hosted their annual home tournament Sept. 13-14. The Elecs finished fourth, dropping a 2-0 decision to the Oxbow Prairie Horizons School Black Knights in the bronze medal game.
Midale’s Keely Shaw had a strong showing at the Union Cycliste Internationale 2019 Para Cycling Road World Championships in Emmen, The Netherlands, from Sept. 12-15. In the time trial, held Sept. 12, Shaw posted a time of 32 minutes and 35.30 seconds, which earned her a fourth place finish. In the road race, she managed a seventh place finish. She hopes to represent Canada at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
Brayden Pachal had a day he will never forget on Sept. 20. It started when the 20-year-old defenceman from Estevan signed an entry-level NHL contract with the Vegas Golden Knights. Pachal attended the Knights training camp this fall. Later that night, he helped the Prince Albert Raiders raise the championship banner for the 2018-19 Western Hockey League season. Pachal was the Raiders captain. He has spent most of this season with the American Hockey League’s Chicago Wolves.
The Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) Elecs senior girls volleyball team had a dominant showing at their annual home tournament on Sept. 20-21. The Elecs went a perfect 9-0 at the competition, losing only two sets during the entire weekend. They swept Carlyle 2-0 in the best-of-three final.
The Estevan Motor Speedway wrapped up its 2019 racing season by hosting the annual Enduro race program Sept. 21. Thirty-eight cars entered this year's race, which was 150 laps or 90 minutes in length, whichever came first. Race winner David St. Croix was able to complete the full number of laps. Jay Cairns was second and Dustin Skjerdal was third.
One of Canada’s most decorated Olympians was a featured speaker at the Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers Wellness Conference, organized by the Estevan Police Association and held at the Southeast College’s Estevan campus Sept. 25 and 26. Cindy Klassen, who is a six-time Olympic medallist in speed skating, discussed her experiences in sport, and how they helped her in her new career as a member of the Calgary Police Service.
Members of the Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs golf team starred at the provincial high school championships at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course on Sept. 27 and 28. Chase Gedak and Jayden Dudas finished first and second, respectively, in the individual boys event, and helped the South East entry finish first in the team competition by 59 strokes. The South East girls team finished first in a much more competitive girls field at provincials.
The Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs football team had a historical day Sept. 28 in their game against the Moose Jaw Vanier Vikings. Estevan shut out the Vikings 35-0 for the first shutout in franchise history. It was also their most lopsided victory ever.
The South Corner Racing Circuit wrapped up its 2019 season with a race program Sept. 28 at the Trackside Motocross Association’s facility in Estevan. Two different races were held in each division during the day, with riders earning points based on their finish in each race. Year-end awards were handed out after the program.
The Oxbow Huskies announced during the Big Six Hockey League’s annual general meeting on Sept. 29 that they take a leave of absence for the 2019-20 season. The Huskies have been part of the league since the 2004-05 season. The league also implemented a new elite player rule that allows each team to carry up to three players who played at least 30 games of junior A level hockey or better, although there are exceptions, especially for this season.
October:
A large contingent of local barrel racers travelled to Brandon, Man., for the Manitoba Barrel Racing Association finals, and a couple of them came home with saddles for their results. Brenda Noble won a saddle for finishing first in the 3D select division, which is for competitors who are at least 50 years of age. Rhonda Gillespie won a saddle for being the best in the 4D open event.
The Estevan Bruins had an outstanding season financially in 2018-19, according to audited financial statements released at the club’s annual general meeting Oct. 8. The Bruins had $101,451 in net income for the year ending April 30, 2019, on the strength of more than $1.26 million in revenues and about $1.16 million in expenses. Regular season revenues were up about $92,000 from the previous year, while playoff revenues were about the same from 2018.
The Bruins struggled to score much of the 2019-20 season, but not on Oct. 9, when they scored 10 times in a 10-2 rout of the host Melville Millionaires. Incredibly enough, all 10 goals were scored in the first two periods. It was the Bruins largest offensive output since 2016.
The Estevan Power Dodge U10 Cudas football team applied the finishing touches to their season with an intersquad game Oct. 10 at the Woodlawn Athletic Field. The ’Cudas played in jamborees in Weyburn, Moose Jaw and Moosomin this season. A jamboree was scheduled for Estevan in late September as part of Football Day in Estevan, but it was cancelled due to weather.
Atom hockey players in the Estevan Minor Hockey Association experienced a draft Oct. 10 for the first time in their young hockey careers. The draft was used to announce rosters for the atom division for the 2019-20 season.
The South East Aaron Well Servicing midget AA Goldwings female hockey team opened their season by winning the Saskatoon Challenge Cup during the Thanksgiving long weekend. The Goldwings went 2-0-1 in the round robin, then defeated the Swift Current Wildcats 6-1 in the semifinal, and the Peace Country Storm 5-3 in the gold medal game.
The Co-op Challenge series volleyball competition between the Estevan Elecs and the Weyburn Comprehensive School Eagles was won by Weyburn. The Eagles defeated the Elecs in both the senior boys and girls volleyball games on Oct. 16 in Weyburn to sweep the fourth annual best-of-four volleyball showdown.
The five members of the Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs cross-country team that competed at provincials Saturday in Prince Albert all came away with personal best times. Aden Haywood had the best result, as he was seventh in the senior boys division.
The Power Dodge Curling Centre was the site of a Saskatchewan Curling Tour men’s qualifier event from Oct. 18-20, with eight of the top men’s curling teams in the province in Estevan battling for a spot in the 2020 SaskTel Tankard men’s provincial curling championship. The Ben Gamble rink defeated Shane Vollman’s entry 6-4 in the final.
An Estevan bodybuilder won a bronze medal at the Canadian Physique Alliance’s National Pro Qualifier in Toronto on Oct. 19. Chad Kerr competed in the over-40 masters heavyweight division and earned a bronze medal for his showing. Kerr said a lot of people, including judges and pros who were there, told him he should have won. Fifteen men were entered in his class from across Canada, and he said it was a highly competitive field.
The Estevan Sharks water polo club opened their 2019-20 season on Oct. 26 and 27, with seven teams in the water in the mini, atom and cadet age groups at various locations in the province.
The Estevan Meter peewee AA Bruins went undefeated at their home tournament Oct. 25-27.
The peewees opened the tournament with a pair of 2-2 ties against the Regina Royals and the Regina Buffaloes. Then they broke out offensively with a 9-3 victory over the Weyburn Wings and an 8-1 win over the Royals.
The Estevan Century 21 U12 Chargers football team had a great run to finish their season, and they capped it by defeating the host Weyburn Eagles 45-2 Oct. 25 in the Q-Collar Bowl, which was the third place game in the Moose Jaw Minor Football League. The Chargers opened the season with three losses, but recovered to post three lopsided victories, and another convincing win in the quarter-finals. They lost 46-45 to the eventual league champions, the Moose Jaw Spartans, in the semis, before recovering to crush Weyburn.
November:
The Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs football team won the biggest game in the 11-year history of the program Nov. 2. The Elecs shut out the host Moose Jaw Peacock Tornadoes 23-0 Saturday afternoon in the Tier 2 final of the Moose Jaw Minor Football League. This year marked the first time the league has had a Tier 2 final. A week earlier, the Elecs beat Moose Jaw Vanier at Woodlawn Athletic Field in their first playoff home game since 2011.
The Estevan Motor Speedway had one last order of business for its 20th season when it hosted its year-end awards banquet on Nov. 2. Trophies were handed out to the track champions, the runners-up and the top rookies, and others were recognized for their commitment to the track. The late Leslie “Weazz” Elson was inducted into the speedway’s Wall of Fame. A fundraising auction was also held that night.
In a first for high school football in Estevan, it was announced that Hunter Eagles, who is in Grade 11, was selected by the coaches in the Moose Jaw Minor Football League as the top defensive player. It’s the first time a member of the Elecs has been selected for a league award by the coaches. Eagles, who made the shift from linebacker to safety at the start of the season, also played running back and returned kicks for the Elecs.
Estevan Bruins captain Jayden Davis, who hails from Alameda, gained national attention for a highlight reel goal against the Weyburn Red Wings on Nov. 8 at Affinity Place. Davis deked out a Weyburn defender, and then put the puck between his legs for a goal that was aired on numerous national highlight reels and on the NHL’s website, among other sources. The Bruins won the game 6-4.
The Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs senior girls and boys volleyball teams competed at regional qualifying tournaments Nov. 10. The senior girls hosted regionals Nov. 10 and finished third in the five-team event with a 2-2 record. Meanwhile, the senior boys went 0-4 at their regional event.
Three Estevan teams won titles at district school volleyball championships on Nov. 12. The Estevan Comprehensive School intermediate boys team won the title on their home court. The Hillcrest School Hornets No. 2 team also won at home, capturing the junior co-ed tournament. The Pleasantdale School Bulldogs girls team won their junior district tournament at Arcola School.
The Oxbow Black Knights senior girls volleyball team regained their spot at the top of 3A volleyball in the province. The Black Knights captured the provincial title in Assiniboia on Nov. 16. They defeated Lanigan 2-1 in the final. Oxbow went 3-1 in the round-robin, then swept Esterhazy 2-0 in the quarter-finals, and Kipling 2-1 in the semis. Their previous gold medal was in 2013, but since then, they had played for a medal each year.
Some of Saskatchewan’s future curling stars were in Estevan from Nov. 22-24 for the first CurlSask junior men’s qualifying bonspiel of the season. Sixteen teams from across the province were entered. They played a triple knockout elimination event, with the winner of the A event, B event and two C events punching their tickets for the provincial tournament.
Estevan’s Taeghan Hack announced in late November she had committed to play water polo for the Salem University of West Virginia, which is an NCAA school. A star in provincial water polo circles in both Estevan and Regina, she was being pursued by several schools before ultimately choosing Salem.
Members of the Estevan Mermaids synchronized swim club had an excellent showing at their first swim meet of the season Nov. 23-24 in Lloydminster. Fifteen Mermaid athletes were in attendance. The club also won seven awards at the annual banquet.
The Estevan Taekwon-Do Club hosted its annual tournament at the Estevan Comprehensive School on Nov. 30. Twenty-seven members of the Estevan club were joined by competitors from six other clubs, and showed their skills in patterns, sparring and black belt demonstrations.
December:
This year’s Estevan Bruins Teddy Bear Toss goal was not only a record for the Estevan Bruins, it might have been one of the fastest anywhere in the history of the promotion. Tanner Manz scored the goal 11 seconds into the Teddy Bear Toss game versus the Battlefords North Stars on Dec. 4 at Affinity Place. Fans threw their teddy bears and other stuff animals onto the ice after the goal, with all of the items directed to the Estevan Salvation Army.
The water polo winter provincials tournament was held Dec. 6 and 7 in Saskatoon, and the Estevan Sharks sent several teams to the competition. The Sharks came home with a silver and three bronze medals. They also had several athletes playing on teams in the open men’s and open women’s events.
Chase Gedak, a Grade 12 student at the Estevan Comprehensive School, announced Dec. 9 via Twitter that he would play golf for the University of Arkansas-Monticello, an NCAA Division 2 program that competes in the Great American Conference. Gedak won the provincial junior men’s provincial title in the summer and the high school provincial title in September. He was also part of three provincial team titles.
Hunter Wallster committed in track and field for the South Dakota State University (SDSU) Jackrabbits, a Division 1 school in the National Collegiate Athletics Association’s (NCAA) Summit League. He’ll compete in the hammer throw, the weight throw and the discus disciplines for the Jackrabbits. Wallster has won provincial titles at the provincial level and has competed nationally.
The Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs senior boys and girls basketball teams went into the Christmas break on a high note. The senior boys team was the class of a tournament in Brandon, Man. They went a perfect 5-0 to win the tournament. In the final, they won 73-68 over Dauphin, in a game that the Elecs trailed by 10 points with four minutes to play. As for the senior girls, they attended the 31st annual Fekula Regina Balfour tournament on the weekend. They went 3-0 in the competition, and defeated Swift Current 73-45 in the final. It was the senior girls second tournament victory of the season.
