ESTEVAN - The Estevan Apex U18 AA Bruins wrapped up the 2022-23 regular season with a lopsided and very significant win.
Estevan defeated the Notre Dame Argos 8-2 Monday night at Affinity Place. With the victory, the Bruins finished first overall in the Saskatchewan AA Hockey League’s U18 AA circuit with 59 points, on the strength of a 28-5-3 record.
Estevan was finished tied for first in the league with the Regina Rangers, but Estevan won the tie-breaker based on head-to-head matchups.
Estevan raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first period against the Argos on goals by Conrad Hase, Emmett McCarthy and Kobe Wotta. Carter Beck had the lone goal in the second period to give the Bruins a 4-1 lead after two periods.
Axton Martin, Lucas Campbell, Keagon Patton and Wotta scored in the third period for Estevan.
Ty Fehrenbach made 21 saves to get the victory.
The rout of the Argos capped a stretch of four games in five days for the U18 AAs.
The first game was a 7-3 win over the Notre Dame Hounds on Thursday night at Affinity Place. Estevan trailed 3-0 after the first period, but Beck scored twice and Sutter Baily also scored in the second to tie the game, and then Baily, Beck, Campbell and Hase tallied in the third. Beck added two assists for a five-point game.
Keagan Carley made 19 saves for the win.
The next game was a 4-2 loss to the Prairie Storm Saturday in Carlyle. Ryker Mathison and Tayson Dietze had the Estevan goals.
Fehrenbach made 23 saves for Estevan.
Then the Bruins edged the Weyburn Wings 4-3 in overtime on Sunday in Weyburn. Mathison scored the winner midway through the extra frame when Estevan was short-handed.
Wotta, Ty Hoste and Jordan Marcotte had the other goals.
Carley made 14 saves in the victory.
Estevan will play the Lumsden-Bethune Lions in the opening round of the playoffs in a best-of-five series. Game 1 will be Friday night at Affinity Place.
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The Estevan TS&M U15 AA Bruins lost 5-4 to the Moose Jaw Warriors on Saturday in Caronport and 8-4 to the Regina Pat Blues Sunday at Affinity Place.
Porter Crossman, Boston Tait, Austin Sawatsky and Gunner Moore scored for Estevan, who led 3-1 at one point. Moose Jaw scored the winner with 17 seconds to play.
Jaxon Kuchinka made 44 saves for Estevan.
Crossman, Tait, Nathan Gardiner and Jayden Chernoff had the goals against the Blues. Quinton Sliva made 17 saves in the loss.
Estevan was to play the Weyburn Wings on Feb. 14 at 6:30 p.m. They will host the Swift Current Broncos on Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. and the Regina Aces the following day at 3:45 p.m.
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The Estevan Meter U13 AA Bruins dropped their final two games of the regular season, 10-2 to the Yorkton Terriers Friday and 4-2 against the Swift Current Broncos the following day. Both games were played at the Power Dodge Arena.
Mason Schmidt and Cooper Hale had Estevan’s goals against Yorkton. Easton Pushie and Nathan Quennelle shared the goaltending duties.
The following day, Estevan lost 4-2 to the Swift Current Broncos. Owen Light and Caleb Crossman scored for Estevan. Pushie made 33 saves in the loss.
Estevan (4-20) will visit the Lumsden Bethune Lions on Feb. 15 for a play-in game.
