NIPAWIN - The Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins dropped two straight games to the last-place team in the SJHL, the Nipawin Hawks, losing 5-3 on Friday night and 4-3 in overtime Saturday against the Nipawin Hawks.
Estevan rallied from a 3-1 deficit in Friday's game to tie the game, only to give up two goals in the final minutes. Cole Robertson opened the scoring for Estevan before the four-minute mark of the first period, but then Nipawin captain Finley Radloff took over, scoring twice before the end of the opening frame for a 2-1 Nipawin lead, and adding a goal in the second to add to the advantage.
Luke Hogan, who was back in the Bruins' lineup for the road trip after missing several games due to injury, scored for the Bruins midway through the second, and Kent Moors tied the game on a power play in the third, but Moors was then assessed a 10-minute misconduct for excessive celebrating.
Hogan received a double minor for high sticking late in the third, and Eric Holness scored with 97 seconds to play for Nipawin during the man advantage. Jack Drake added the insurance goal into an empty net 47 seconds later.
Polhill made 26 saves for the Bruins, while Gage Roberts had 22 saves for Nipawin.
Estevan had a 3-1 lead entering the third period of Saturday's game, but gave up two in the third and the winner in overtime during a Nipawin power play.
Ewan Rennie scored 75 seconds into the first period to give Estevan a 1-0 lead, and Kieran Ronan tallied early in the second. Carter Anderson scored midway through the second for Nipawin, but Chase Holt replied with his first goal in the SJHL for a 3-1 Bruin advantage after 40 minutes.
Goals by Ashton Tait and Konnor Watson tied the game for Nipawin, and Holness had the winner with 52 seconds remaining in overtime.
Polhill made 27 saves for Estevan, and Nathan Claydon had 32 saves for Nipawin.
The Bruins (9-11-3-1) have a home and home upcoming with the Melville Millionaires. They will host the Mills on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m., and visit Melville the following night.
Videos courtesy of the SJHL's YouTube page.
