ESTEVAN - The Estevan Bruins’ return to home ice was a successful one.
The Bruins defeated the Notre Dame Hounds 5-2 Saturday night at Affinity Place. It was the Black and Gold’s first home game since Oct. 13.
Cody Davis opened the scoring four minutes into the first period for Estevan. Then Kade Runke and Owen Miley scored power-play goals 2:13 apart for a 3-0 Bruins’ advantage.
Cyprus Smith-Davis scored early in the second period for the Hounds. Estevan had chances to add to the lead on a two-minute, 5-on-3 power play, but couldn’t convert. Notre Dame had a golden chance to score on a breakaway, but Bruins’ goaltender Cam Hrdlicka came up with a big save.
Jagjeevan Phangura scored with 7 1/2 minutes to play in the second to restore the Bruins’ advantage and Tyler Guy added to the lead 68 seconds later.
Jacob Ligi’s power-play goal late in the second for the Hounds finished the scoring.
Hrdlicka finished with 28 saves on 30 shots for the Bruins. Johann Tremblay-Kau stopped 25 of the 30 shots he faced for the Hounds.
The Bruins will return to the ice Thursday night when they host the Humboldt Broncos at 7 p.m. Estevan will then host the Battlefords North Stars on Friday night at 7 p.m. and Humboldt again the following night. Battlefords and Humboldt are the top two teams in the league.
