ESTEVAN -
The Estevan Apex U18 AA Bruins mustered a big win Sunday with a 4-1 victory at the Swift Current Broncos.
The best-of-five Saskatchewan AA Hockey League South Division semifinal is tied at 1-1.
Carter Beck scored for Estevan with 6 1/2 minutes to play in the second period to open the scoring, but Swift Current tied the game 34 seconds later. Turner Knockaert replied for Estevan 35 seconds after Swift Current’s goal, and Ryker Mathison added another goal four minutes later for a 3-1 advantage.
Beck added his second of the game with 97 seconds remaining in the third to clinch the victory.
Keagan Carley stopped 21 shots for Estevan.
Swift Current defeated Estevan 2-1 in Game 1 Thursday night at Affinity Place. Spencer Copeland had Estevan’s lone goal, a tally with 5:55 to play in the third that tied the game. The Broncos scored the winner with 52 seconds left in the third.
Ty Fehrenbach made 22 saves for Estevan, who outshot Swift Current 43-24.
Game 3 will be March 9 in Estevan, starting at 8 p.m. Game 4 is March 11 in Swift Current. Game 5, if necessary, would be the following day at 6:30 p.m. in Estevan.
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The Estevan TS&M U15 AA Bruins wrapped up their season by splitting games in western Saskatchewan.
The first game was a 4-3 overtime victory over the West Central Wheat Kings on Saturday. Gunner Moore scored twice for Estevan in the first period, but the Kings led 3-2 after 20 minutes. It remained a 3-2 game until late in the third period, when Porter Crossman scored to tie the game. Boston Tait scored the winner with 3:47 to play in extra time.
Jaxon Kuchinka stopped 34 shots for Estevan.
The U15 AA Bruins then lost 5-2 to the Swift Current Broncos Sunday. Moore scored twice for the second straight game. The second goal, early in the second, put Estevan ahead by one.
Quinton Sliva stopped 31 of the 36 shots he faced.
Estevan finished the season with a 5-21-1-2 record and will miss the playoffs.
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The Estevan Ironside Energy U11 AA Bruins dropped two games to finish the season.
Estevan lost 7-2 to the Moosomin Ice Badgers on Saturday and 12-6 on Sunday to finish the season at 14-6.
Braxton Shier and Ethan Phillips had Estevan’s goals on Saturday.
Phillips had three goals on Sunday. Nash Cameron, Andin Barlow and Shier scored the other goals.
Ty Blackburn was in goal for both games.
Estevan will host the South East Minor Hockey League playoffs from March 10-12.
They will begin by playing Moosomin on March 10 at 3:30 p.m. at Affinity Place. They will also play the Weyburn Wings at 2:45 p.m. on March 11. The Yorkton Terriers, Melville Millionaires and the Northeast Wolfpack will also be competing.
The A final will be at 12:45 p.m. on March 12.
