The Estevan Bruins didn't play the game quite the way they drew it up, but it didn't keep them from a win as they successfully swept the Melville Millionaires with a 7-4 win at Affinity Place on Saturday, September 15. 

Estevan got two goals each from Turner Ripplinger and Johnny Witzke, while also getting markers from Michael McChesney, TJ Irey, and George Cathers. Melville replied with two from Ryan Butler and one each from Aiden Steinke and Jaden Shewchuk.

"It's four points, that's the key," said Bruins head coach and GM Chris Lewgood. "Melville played hard, they didn't go away. But we didn't get scored on a whole lot this weekend for any reason that we should be alarmed about. We had some breakdowns and mental errors that come from playing hockey this time of year but nothing alarming about our skill level or willingness to compete." 

The first period went about as perfectly as it could. The Bruins got three goals before the eight minute mark with McChesney leading the scoring parade just 57 second in off the rush, slipping a backhand through Colby Entz. Johnny Witzke tipped home Jayden Davis's pass under a minute later in 4-on-4 play. When Ripplinger scored on a breakaway at 7:24, the hook came out and Entz's night ended.

"We were doing things the right way," said Lewgood. "Our guys executed the game plan extremely well in the first period. We played with a lot of energy and were able to capitalize on our chances, which doesn't always happen."

At the end of the first, the Bruins lost defensemen Jake Heerspink and Austin King-Cunningham to simultaneous fighting majors against brothers Dayton and Ryan Heino. By the midway mark of the second they were missing both players as the Millionaires had pulled ahead with four straight goals. Butler scored the first two with a back-door tip in and a top-corner shot from the bottom of the left circle, and Steinke and Shewchuk soon followed.

Those were the last four goals Melville scored, however, and the Bruins offense came back to life shortly after. Off a goal-mouth scramble, Irey banged away in tight after Jack Michell's shot found iron and tucked it in to tie the game. Just over a minute later, Cathers outwaited Berk Berkeliev and restored the Bruins lead with a backhander that just crossed the line. 

Witzke picked up his fourth point of the night on a 4-on-3 advantage late in the third. Melville covered his pass options but allowed Witzke to walk right down the left side and rip one past Berkeliev. 

"I'm a pass first player," Witzke said, "so I wasn't looking to shoot right away. But once they gave me the room to walk in, I tried to go high glove. It ended up going low blocker, but I can't complain, a goal's a goal in my books."

Witzke's goal was his fourth point of the night. He's only accomplished that feat once before, in a game against Notre Dame in 2017, but tonight the game was flowing his way. 

"I got off to a hot start," he said. "Before we lost (Heerspink and King-Cunningham) I got two points right off the bat and that helped later when I wasn't jumping up in the rush as much. I'm not trying to pile up points, I'm just trying to be a better hockey player. Tonight it was my night to help the team win." 

In the third, Turner Ripplinger salted the game away with an empty netter, his second of the contest. Estevan gave Melville few chances in the third, and when they broke through, Jake Anthony stood tall.

With the win, Estevan moves to 2-0 on the year. Their next game will come against Yorkton on Tuesday night at Affinity Place.

GAME NOTES

Johnny Witzke's two-goal night was the first of his career. His four-point night ties a career high and puts him second in the league in points by a defenseman with five.  

Through just two games, TJ Irey has posted two goals and seven points for a tie of the league lead with Flin Flon forward Brandson Hein. Irey had no three-point games in his rookie year but has a three and four-point game to start off his sophomore campaign. 

Michael McChesney opened the year with back-to-back games with goals against Melville for the second straight year. He had three points on the weekend.

For the second straight season, Estevan begins the year with a sweep of the Melville Millionaires. Last year the Bruins won 4-2 at home on September 15, followed by a 5-1 road win on September 16. The Bruins won the season series 5-1.