ESTEVAN - The Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins entered the Christmas break by splitting weekend home games with the Humboldt Broncos.
Estevan defeated Humboldt 3-2 Friday night but lost 5-2 on Saturday. The Bruins enter the Christmas break with an 11-13-3-1 record, which leaves them 10th overall in the 12-team SJHL standings. The top eight teams make the postseason.
The Bruins are tied with the Yorkton Terriers for the fewest games played in the league at 28.
Kent Moors and Kaelen Whittingham struck less than five minutes apart in the first period to give Estevan a 2-0 lead Friday night. Connor Miller put Humboldt on the board early in the second and Michael Dowdell tied the game with just over five minutes to play in the middle frame. Ewan Rennie scored what proved to be the winner less than 90 seconds after Dowdell's goal.
Zach Shaughnessy made 35 saves to get the win in his Bruins' debut. Ty Matonovich had 37 saves for Humboldt.
Saturday's game saw Humboldt's Jacob Strizzi open the scoring midway through the first, but Carter Onrait tied the game a few minutes later. Jeter Korte put the Broncos back in the lead early in the second, and Strizzi's second of the game added to the advantage. Moors pulled the Bruins to within one before the period was out.
Strizzi notched his third of the game and Josh Sale put the contest away for Humboldt in the third.
Shaughnessy made 31 saves for Estevan in the loss, while Edouard Gauthier had 21 saves for Humboldt.
Estevan will visit Yorkton on Jan. 3, 2025, and host the Weyburn Red Wings the following night at 7 p.m.
