The Estevan Bruins and Yorkton Terriers met in Yorkton on Tuesday, November 20 and put on the kind of show that keeps fans coming back. Unfortunately for the Bruins, it was Yorkton fans who had the most to cheer about.

The Terriers had eight goals from seven different goal scorers and Ryan Ouellette made 29 saves as the Bruins fell 8-4 and dropped out of first place in the Viterra Division. 

Bryce Platt scored twice from the Bruins, and Johnny Witzke and Kolton Leslie added single markers or Estevan. Jake Anthony was pulled after the first period after allowing four goals on 17 shots. 

The Terriers began scoring early and never really stopped, with Chantz Petruic opening the scoring with a ripper of a shot off the rush just 54 seconds in. Not even two minutes later, Petruic was at it again, this time creating a rebound for Colby Brandt to knock home.

The Bruins got back within one for the first of three times in the game when Kolton Leslie buried the rebound of a shot from linemate Tristyn DeRoose. But the Terriers stormed back as Jared Legien danced and dangled into the Bruins zone before slipping a shot through Anthony’s legs to restore the two-goal lead. 

Again the Bruins tried to mount a comeback. Witzke ripped a shot from the point that blasted its way through traffic and went bar-down for his eighth of the year. But before the period was over the Terriers had reclaimed the two-goal lead with Cole Keenlyside tapping home an easy one after Anthony lost sight of the puck in a goalmouth scramble.

That was the end of the night for Anthony, but his replacement, Grant Boldt, had no better fortune. Early in the second Yorkton opened up a three-goal lead as Petruic fed Cody Bruchkowski on a 2-on-1 and the 20-year-old Bruchkowski made no mistake.

Two successive power plays got the Bruins back to within one once more. Platt tipped home Jake Heerspink’s point shot for his first power play goal of the night, then blasted home a back-door feed from Isaiah Thomas on the second. The Bruins were clawing their way back into it, but at the very end of the second period they lost sight of Aiden Bulych and the youngster crept alone to the front of the net, where he gave the Terriers some breathing room.

Dino Antoniadis widened the Terriers lead further off an offensive zone face-off, fighting his way through coverage to chop home his 4thof the year. The Bruins tried to mount a counter, but suddenly the offense dried up and even a lengthy 5-on-3 advantage wasn’t enough to get it flowing again. Keenlyside added an empty-netter with under a minute to play, and the game was over. 

The Bruins drop below .500 with the loss, and fall out of first in the Viterra Division. Their next game comes on November 22, when they host the Humboldt Broncos. 

GAME NOTES

Johnny Witzke takes sole possession of first in goals by a defenseman in the SJHL with his eighth of the year. He has played two more games than Jake Heerspink, who is second with seven.

This is the third time the Bruins have switched a goalie out this year. The first was in a 6-2 loss to Humboldt at the showcase, the second was a 6-2 loss to Flin Flon at home.

Bryce Platt’s two goals put him in a tie with Turner Ripplinger for second on the Bruins. In 20 games he has 11 goals and 21 points. 

The Bruins fall to 2-2 against the Terriers on the year. Both of Estevan’s losses have come on the road by a combined score of 12-6. Their home wins have a combined score of 13-3.