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Second period goal binges lift Bruins to wins

Offensive outbursts in the second period lifted the Estevan Bruins to a weekend sweep of the Weyburn Red Wings. The Bruins scored five times in an eight-minute span of the second period in a 7-0 romp of the Red Wings Friday night in Weyburn.
Ryder Pierson
Bruins Ryder Pierson (18) and Antoine St. Onge (16) battle for the puck with opponents from Weyburn Saturday night at Affinity Place.

Offensive outbursts in the second period lifted the Estevan Bruins to a weekend sweep of the Weyburn Red Wings.

The Bruins scored five times in an eight-minute span of the second period in a 7-0 romp of the Red Wings Friday night in Weyburn.

Bruins captain Austin King-Cunninghm opened the scoring with 3 1/2 minutes to play in the first period.

The offensive blitz began 2:29 into the second when Antoine St. Onge scored his first goal in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Mason Strutt added to the lead just over two minutes later. St. Onge then notched his second of the frame, and Devan Harrison and Caleb Petrie scored power play goals to give Estevan a 6-0 lead 10:03 into the middle stanza.

King-Cunningham added his second of the game 8:17 into the third to finish the scoring.

Boston Bilous made 26 saves to get the shutout in his first SJHL start.

The Bruins scored three times in a little more than five minutes in the second period in a 3-1 win over Weyburn on Saturday.

Weyburn opened the scored 3:31 into the second period on a goal by Kyle Bailey. But just 43 seconds later, Tanner Mortenson scored his first goal in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League to tie the game.

“It’s always good to answer back and then you get a little bit of momentum, and then you want to get the next one and build off of that,” said head coach and general manager Jason Tatarnic.

Eddie Gallagher tallied 3:40 after Mortenson to give the Bruins the lead, and Kade McMillen’s goal 93 seconds after Gallagher’s marker doubled the Bruins advantage.

Emerik Demers made 34 saves for the Bruins, who improved their early season record to 4-1-1.

Gallagher believes the Bruins showed their potential offensively on the weekend, but they also played an effective defensive game.

“There’s no better feeling in the league (than sweeping Weyburn),” said Gallagher. “This, and winning the championship, might be the two best things to feel.”

Gallagher has formed a potent line with local products Cole Fonstad and Mason Strutt; the trio has combined for 11 goals and 24 points in six games. Gallagher said Fonstad is the best player he’s played with, but he also praised Strutt’s contributions.

“Strutter brings a gritty mentality. He’s small, but he likes to play tough,” said Gallagher.

Tatarnic believes the club showed their potential during the weekend, and came up with strong 60-minute efforts.

“You always have to keep that mentality up, that we have to show up and work every shift and every period, and that will lead to success,” said Tatarnic.

In the second period of Friday night’s game, they capitalized on their chances, which they didn’t do in the first period.

Discipline was also better against Weyburn. While there was one fight on Friday and two on Saturday, the Bruins gave up just four power plays Friday and five Saturday against their Highway 39 rivals.

“There’s a fine line between having discipline and controlling your emotions, because you want the players to play with passion, and you don’t want to take that away from them,” said Tatarnic.

Estevan won Saturday’s game despite playing without five regulars due to injury. Tatarnic hopes those players can start to make their way back into the lineup for their next game, which is scheduled to be Friday night when they host the Notre Dame Hounds. Game time is 7:30 p.m.