ESTEVAN - The Estevan Ironside Energy U11 AA Bruins wrapped up their season by hosting and finishing second at the South East Minor Hockey League's (SEMHL) year-end tournament.
Six teams competed in the tournament, which was held at Affinity Place and the Power Dodge Arena from Friday to Sunday.
Estevan won two of the three games that they played. The Bruins opened with a 7-6 victory over the Moosomin Ice Badgers Friday afternoon. Ethan Phillips' goal late in the second period proved to be the winner. Neither team scored in the third.
Phillips had three goals and two assists for Estevan, while Penn Tytlandsvik had two goals and two helpers. Braxton Shier and Andin Barlow had the other goals.
Coach Rodney Phillips said they were pleased to have a game like that for their opener.
"We went up there last weekend and they beat us. We knew it was going to be tough. Those are the kinds of games you want to be in, those one-goal games, because those are fun," Rodney Phillips said.
Estevan was supposed to play the Weyburn Wings in their next game, but Weyburn had to forfeit because the blizzard that hit southeast Saskatchewan kept the Wings at home. It was the only game that didn't happen during the weekend due to the storm, as the other teams arrived in Estevan before the weather turned ugly. Weyburn was able to make it here for Sunday's games.
In the semifinal round, Estevan defeated the Melville Millionaires 4-3. Ethan Phillips had two goals and an assist, while Tytlsandsvik had three helpers. Barlow notched the winner.
Estevan fell 9-4 to the Yorkton Terriers in the league final. Phillips had Estevan's first two goals of the game. Nash Cameron and Tytlandsvik also scored.
Ty Blackburn was in goal for all three games.
Yorkton did not lose in league play or the playoffs this season.
Moosomin won the B final over Melville and Weyburn took the C final over the Northeast Wolfpack.
Rodney Phillips was pleased with how the team played at the tournament. Every game was close and they competed hard.
"Everybody was excited and stepped up an extra level. They knew that it was important and it was a team effort all weekend," he said.
This was the first time that Estevan has hosted the year-end tournament for the SEMHL. He noted there was a similar competition in Weyburn last year.
Estevan was among the teams that were interested in hosting the tournament this year. When the other teams backed out, it meant the competition was coming here. The other teams were pleased with the efforts of the host team and community.
"A lot of our parents put a lot of work into it, and it went very well," said Phillips.
It's a tournament that the U11 AAs would look to host again.
Phillips was pleased with the calibre of hockey during the weekend. It's a good league to be in and it was competitive.
Two players, Kolter Snell and Payton Molstad, will be eligible to return next year. Also back will be an affiliated player, Dane Johnson. The rest of the team will move up to the U13 level.
"We had a good season. We didn't know what to expect, but we competed well, so finishing second in the league for the first time being in it in a few years was really good," Phillips said.
