Two of the most memorable games in the short history of Affinity Place in Estevan entertained over 3,600 fans during Games 3 & 4 of the Canalta Cup semi-final this past week.
The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins and Battlefords North Stars ended up splitting the two games (5-2 Estevan, 9-6 Battlefords), but it was the fans and the bottom line of the junior hockey club that were true winners on both Monday and Tuesday night.
"Coming into the homestand we already knew that we had the best fans in the league with the support shown during the regular season both at home and with how well our fans traveled on the road," expressed Carter Duffin, Bruins' Assistant Coach and Director of Marketing after the two games.
"Then the black-and-gold faithful showed up big time with almost 2,000 fans in the rink for both playoff games against Battlefords. It was fantastic." 
The marked attendance on the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) website tallied 1,744 fans through the gate for Game 3 and 1,924 fans for Game 4, totaling 3,668 spectators combined. With an estimated capacity of 2,300 (according to the Estevan Bruins website), Game 3 saw the rink filled to 76% capacity and Game 4 featured an impressive 84% mark.
Duffin adds how that atmosphere undoubtedly has a positive impact on the players.
"The players absolutely feed off of it," stated Duffin, who is going through his first playoff experience in Estevan. "We had players commenting an hour before the puck drop how the rink was already filling up and there was a buzz in the arena. So it's really nice to see."
For Jack Michell, rookie defenceman with the Bruins' who scored his first SJHL goal in Game 4, the moment was unforgettable.
"It was amazing, especially in front of the crowd here," said Michell after Game 4. "It was electric and just a great feeling." 
The increase in attendance trickles into all the other potential revenue streams for both the hockey club and the City of Estevan. You need to look no further than the historic 50/50 raffles held for both games for the evidence.
"Those types of 50/50 numbers, where we're pushing $15,000 and $18,000 jackpots, are comparable to leagues well above ours. Even some teams in the National Hockey League might not reach those numbers, and that support is vital for our junior hockey club," concluded Duffin.
The take-home 50/50 prize for Game 3 was over $7,200 while Game 4 saw the prize giveaway at over $9,200, with the two winners living in Weyburn and Estevan respectively.
The Bruins lead Battlefords (3-1) in the Best-of-7 series, which resumes Thursday night in Battlefords. If a Game 6 is necessary on Saturday, or if Estevan advances to the Canalta Cup final against either Nipawin or Humboldt, both the attendance numbers and 50/50 totals are expected to be eclipsed.
Thu, Apr 25, 9:30 AM
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