ESTEVAN - The Estevan Apex U18 AA Bruins knocked off the top team in the Saskatchewan AA Hockey League, and their reward is a trip to the provincial/league final.
The Bruins defeated the Regina Vics 3-2 in overtime on March 21 at Affinity Place to sweep the best-of-three in two straight games and win the Saskatchewan AA Hockey League's South Final. Estevan will play either the Saskatoon Sabercats or Martensville Marauder in the final, a best-of-three series which doubles as the league and provincial championship.
The Bruins entered the playoffs as the second-ranked team in the South Division, thanks to their 17-7-3-5 record and 42 points during the regular season. Regina was the top-ranked team in the playoffs with a 26-0-2-4 record and 56 points; they had just two overtime losses during the season.
Estevan had a 2-0 lead on Regina at one point in Game 2, with Payton Phillips scoring once in each of the first and second periods. With their season on the line, Regina came through with two in the third.
It remained a tie game until Tristan Brownridge scored with 5:26 to play in the first overtime period, much to the delight of the home crowd.
Jaxon Kuchinka stopped 27 shots for Estevan.
Estevan also won Game 1 3-2 in overtime three nights earlier in Regina. The Vics had a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes, but Carter Hirsch and Riley Gigian scored in the final 12 minutes of the third to tie the game. Then Grayson Brock scored the winner 32 seconds into overtime.
Kuchinka made 29 saves in the win.
This is the second time in three seasons the Bruins have advanced to the league/provincial final.
Also on March 21, the Southeast Apex U18 AA Goldwings lost 3-1 to the Warman Wildcats in Game 1 of the best-of-three final for the Saskatchewan Female Hockey League/Female U18 AA provincials. The game was played in Midale.
Alex Reid opened the scoring for the southeast team just over three minutes into the second period, but Warman tied the game before the period was finished, and then added two goals in a three-minute span of the third period.
Kiera Barker gave up three goals on 25 shots.
Game 2 is set for March 23 in Warman. Game 3, if necessary, would be played March 30 in Midale, starting at 1:30 p.m.
The Goldwings were the No. 2-ranked team in the South Division during the regular season with a 21-6 record. They advanced to the final by sweeping the top-ranked Regina Rebels.
Warman was the No. 2 team in the North Division with a 16-9-2 mark during the season, and reached the final by beating Saskatoon Comet Legends.
