At the start of the third period, the Estevan Bruins and Yorkton Terriers were in a two-goal game that was starting to tilt in the Bruins favour. By the time the third period was halfway over, the Bruins were in total control of a dejected-looking Terriers squad en-route to a 9-2 win. 

Turner Ripplinger started and ended the scoring, putting up his first hat trick as an Estevan Bruin, and six other Bruins tallied to give Estevan their third win of the year. Kadin Killpatrick got his first SJHL win, stopping 20 of 22 shots. Ripplinger's goals brought his season total up to five. 

"It seemed like everything was going in today," said Ripplinger, who scored all three goals with high-velocity wrist shots to the top corner. "As I've gotten older, my shot's been getting better. The funny thing is, I was talking to my dad today and he was saying I should shoot the puck more. It worked out pretty well today."

Rippling began the scoring on the power play, walking off the goal line and ripping a wrister over goalie Ryan Oullette. A few minutes later he took a rebound of his chip in off the near boards and fired that over Oullette's glove as well.

Two minutes later, Jack Michell joined the rush and tapped in a back-door feed from Jayden Davis. Oullette's SJHL debut came to an abrupt end after just 12:28 and Ben Laidlaw took the crease.

For a time, Laidlaw settled things down. The Terriers got back within two as Chance Petruic burried a one-timer on a two-on one. TJ Irey replied, whacking away at a rebound in the second period, but the Terriers were back within two again at the end of the second as Jared Legien scored a tap in on the man advantage. 

In the third period, however, the wheels fell completely off the Terriers and Estevan's grip on the momentum became iron-clad. The Bruins scored five goals in the third period to salt away the victory.

"I thought the play was very one-sided throughout the night," said Bruins head coach and GM Chris Lewgood. "That's a combination of us having a pretty good night, working hard, getting some bounces. Our attention to detail tonight was a lot better than it has been. I think Yorkton has an off night. You combine us having a good night and them having an off night and it shows in the result."

Isaiah Thomas began the third period rout with his first ever SJHL goal. On a power play, Thomas broke into the zone while his mates were changing and fired one under the pad of Laidlaw. 

"I knew they were going to go for a change," said Thomas. "Aigne caught the puck at the red line and I knew if we got the puck going the other way right away we'd have a jump on their d-man. That's what happened and fortunately for me it went in."

Thomas's goal was followed immediately by a goal from Michael McChesney, and the dam burst. Jerzy Martin slammed home a rebound to make it 7-2, Johnny Witzke pulled up in the slot shorthanded and rifled one over Laidlaw's shoulder to make it eight, and Ripplinger completed the hat trick, going one-on-one with Brendan Mark and getting just enough separation to unleash another wrist shot and bring the score to 9-2. 

"The boys realized we still had another gear," Thomas said of the third period. "Last couple games we were struggling with a hot start and letting teams back in the game, and that was a point we made in the locker room after the first that we can't let that happen tonight." 

Estevan moves to 3-0 on the year, with every win coming against a divisional opponent. The Bruins have been piling up offense in the early going. 

"Relatively speaking we're very happy," said Lewgood. "3-0 in all divisional games is huge, those are big swings, that's 12 points. The games at the start of the year count just as much as those at the end and although they're not as well played, they're just as important."

Estevan next plays on Monday, September 24 as they take on Kindersley at the SJHL showcase.

GAME NOTES

In a bizarre twist, and a first for the Bruins, five players from North Dakota scored in the game. Irey was the first in the second period with Thomas, McChesney, Martin, and Witzke following.

Seven Bruins had multi-point games, with Ripplinger leading the way with three goals and two assists. Ripplinger's five goals lead the SJHL. 

TJ Irey picked up a goal and three assists for the second straight game, bringing his point total to 11 on the year.

Estevan was without Jake Heerspink, as he was suspended for being part of the second fight after a stoppage in the 7-4 home win over Melville on September 15.