The latest clash between the Flin Flon Bombers and the Estevan Bruins was not kind to the Black and Gold.
Flin Flon came into Affinity Place on Friday night and trounced the Bruins 7-1. It was the first meeting between the two teams since last season's first-round series, which Flin Flon won in seven games.
The Bombers dominated early, outshooting the Bruins 14-5 and taking a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes. Jacob Vockler opened the scoring on a power play with 4:54 to play in the period. Dawson Karol scored 2:23 later to double the advantage and Carter Anderson finished the offensive onslaught with 63 seconds remaining.
Jack Piper had the Bruins' lone goal on the night with 1:48 to play in the middle frame.
The Bombers scored four times in the third, with the first two going into an empty net. Anthony Piccininno notched a power-play goal 4:13 into the frame on a power play, and Luke Lepper added another while the Bombers were short-handed. Karol scored a short-handed goal 68 seconds after Lepper's marker and Ashton Paul finished the scoring.
Cam Hrdlicka stopped 28 of the 33 shots he faced for Estevan, while Harom Laser-Hume had 22 saves for Flin Flon.
The game marked the Bruins' debut for three forwards: Turner McMillen, Tristan Dussault and Ben Wright.
McMillen, who hails from Carievale, spent parts of four seasons with the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League. He was released last Wednesday because WHL teams can only carry three 20-year-olds. He had two goals and two assists in six games this season for the Rockets.
He played his developmental hockey in southeast Saskatchewan, including several seasons with Estevan teams, and played six games with the Estevan U18 AAA Bears during their COVID-shortened inaugural season in 2020-21.
Dussault, who has experience in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, committed to play for the Bruins in August. He suffered an injury in August and wasn't cleared to play until Friday.
Wright, who turns 18 on Oct. 23, is a 6'4" forward who was re-assigned by the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL. He had a goal and an assist with Edmonton last season and was pointless in six games this season.
