SASKATOON - The Estevan Great North U18 AAA Bears picked up a big 5-3 win Thursday night over the host Saskatoon Blazers, who are the reigning Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League champions.
The Bears held a 2-1 lead after the first period, with Cameron Allard and Evhan Allan scoring for Estevan. After a scoreless second period, both teams' offences ignited early in the third.
Taye Shukin scored a short-handed goal 96 seconds into the third to put the Bears up by two. But the Blazers scored power-play goals 23 seconds apart to tie the game by the three-minute mark of the third.
Thirty seconds after the Blazers' third goal, Gunner Moore scored to put the Bears ahead again, and Carter Onrait gave the visitors some insurance, thanks to a power-play goal with 3:15 to play.
Kaden Perron stopped 29 shots to backstop the Bears to the win.
The win was the Bears' 13th victory of the season in their 29th game. Last season they won 12 times in 44 games. They are one win shy of the franchise record of 14 victories, set in 2021-22.
It was also just the fourth loss in regulation for the Blazers this season.
The Bears (13-13-3) will close out the pre-Christmas portion of their schedule when they host the Regina Pat Canadians on Dec. 22 at Affinity Place, starting at 7:30 p.m.
