ESTEVAN - The Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins went 1-1 in their weekend home-and-home series with the Melville Millionaires.
Estevan rallied from a 2-1 deficit in the third period to defeat Melville 5-3 on Friday at Affinity Place, but then lost 2-0 in Melville on Saturday.
The two teams were tied at 1-1 after the first period, with Edward Knittig scoring for Melville 7:36 into the first and Hayden Pimm tying the game four minutes later. Leo Jewitt had the lone goal in the second. The Bruins had just three shots on goal in the first and six in the second.
Estevan exploded for four goals on 15 shots in the third. Ewan Rennie tied the game with a power-play goal 4:42 into the third. It remained a 2-2 contest until Brady Wilson scored a power-play goal with 6 1/2 minutes to play, and Rennie notched his second of the game on a breakaway 2:16 later.
Simon Parini's goal 28 seconds later pulled Melville to within one, and Wilson scored his second of the game with one second to play on a shot from deep in the Bruins' zone.
Benjamin Polhill stopped 21 shots for Estevan, while Nick Genette made 19 saves for Melville.
Head coach and general manager Jason Tatarnic said the Mills came out hard Friday night and had a great tempo to their game.
"I thought in the second period, especially in the second half, we started going back to the game plan, and then in the third period, we really executed, and they did what we asked in terms of what we want to execute and take advantage of," said Tatarnic.
The tying goal in the third marked the turning point in the game.
"I thought we were playing well and we had momentum, but that really changed it," he said.
Rennie agreed the 2-2 goal was a catalyst for the win.
"We started getting the legs moving a little bit more, and getting in on the forecheck and playing a little more simple," said Rennie.
Rennie said each game has added significance for the club as the Bruins try to get back into the playoff race.
"Every point really does matter, and coming into the stretch here, a lot of teams are so close," said Rennie.
Polhill was nearly perfect on Saturday night, surrendering just one goal on 27 shots, and that goal, scored by Jewitt, came after a lucky bounce.
Ryan Roethke had Melville's other goal with seven seconds to play in the third. Polhill was pulled for an extra attacker.
Ben Laurette had 22 saves for the shutout for Melville, who had lost five straight games.
Caden Drury, who was the captain of the Estevan Great North U18 AAA Bears in 2021-22 and at one point the top scorer in the SJHL this season, recently left Melville to join the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Tatarnic said he noticed the difference in Melville without Drury.
"I think any time you lose your leading scorer, it's a big loss."
The Bruins announced the acquisition of goaltender Zach Shaughnessy from the Delta Ice Hawks of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League to compliment Polhill, who has started every game in goal for the Bruins since Kyle Kelsey left for the BCHL in mid-November.
Estevan (10-12-3-1) will close out the pre-Christmas portion of their schedule when they host the Humboldt Broncos on Dec. 20 and 21. Both games will start at 7 p.m.
Video courtesy of the SJHL's YouTube page.
