The Estevan Bruins will face the Kindersley Klippers twice this week for the first match between the two teams since September. They will do so without one of their top forwards, however.

Bruins captain Jake Fletcher has been suspended for two games following his hit from behind on Humboldt Broncos forward Derek Patter. During the game on January 6, Fletcher struck Patter in the numbers and earned a five-minute major and game ejection. The penalty carries an automatic suspension.

"Fletcher will be missing both games against Kindersley," Bruins head coach and GM Chris Lewgood confirmed after morning skate on Tuesday, January 9. "That's it. He's got a two-game suspension."

Fletcher is the Bruins third leading scorer with a career-high 44 points in just 37 games. His 17 goals are two shy of a career high of 19, and he is a strong candidate to represent the Estevan Bruins and the SJHL at the SJHL/MJHL showcase in Regina on January 15-16.

The Bruins haven't played the Klippers since September 22 in Kindersley, where they fell by a 7-5 score with an empty netter. The two teams have changed quite a bit since then.

"Everybody's a little sharper this time of year," Lewgood said of the impending matchup. "For our guys, this has been a long time coming, and they're excited to get after the Klippers."

One area of interest in this matchup will be Estevan's high-powered third-ranked power play against the Klippers stingy fourth-ranked penalty kill. At home the Bruins power play operates at 27 per cent. 

"I thought we had a lot of intensity the last couple of practices, a lot of competitiveness, so today we focussed on some power play and penalty kill stuff," said Lewgood. "We've got to be sharp going against Kindersley, they have one of the best penalty kills in the league." 

Goal scoring has been a challenge for Kindersley this season, as they sit with just 92 goals scored this year tied for ninth in the SJHL. They have just one player, Tanner Thomspon, with more than ten goals on the year (Thompson has 12) compared to the Bruins six.

Their leading scorer is Keillan Olson, who was acquired from Nipawin earlier in the year. He has nine points in 11 games as a Klipper for a total of 33 points in 35 games on the year.   

Estevan has dropped their last two games at home, following a 4-2 loss to Melfort and a 2-1 OT loss to the Broncos. Kindersley is coming off a 3-0 home victory over the Notre Dame Hounds.