ESTEVAN - The Notre Dame Hounds' 18-game losing streak is over.
The Hounds defeated the Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins 4-3 in a shootout Wednesday afternoon at Affinity Place in front of an announced crowd of 2,218. The game was the annual Hooky for Hockey contest, with local school students getting a free ticket for the game, creating a raucous atmosphere for the two teams.
The game was scoreless until later in the second period, when Ewan Rennie scored to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead. Steven Steranka scored 51 seconds later to add to the Bruins' advantage. But the Hounds fought back, with Ryder Gilroy and Evin Bossel scoring 33 seconds apart to tie the game before the frame was finished.
Kaelen Whittingham's goal 39 seconds into the third put the Bruins ahead again, but Damian Metastasio's response with less than a minute to play sent the game to overtime. Notre Dame pressed for the winner, but Bruin goaltender Beck Boiteau came up with some big saves. The Hounds then outscored the Bruins 2-0 in the shootout.
Boiteau had 30 saves for the Bruins during the game. Kaden Perron, a former member of the Estevan U18 AAA Bears, had 29 saves for the Hounds.
It was the Hounds' first win since Jan. 18.
The game was also most likely the Hounds' final appearance in Estevan, as Notre Dame's junior A program is expected to move to Warman next season.
The Bruins (17-30-5-2, 41 points) will close out the season by facing the Weyburn Red Wings in a home and home. They will be in Weyburn on March 14, and then will host Weyburn the following night at 7 p.m.
