ESTEVAN - The top-ranked team in the Saskatchewan AA Hockey League’s U18 playoffs has taken a 2-0 lead in their first-round series.
The Estevan Apex Bruins defeated the Lumsden-Bethune Lions 5-1 on Friday night at Affinity Place and 5-3 the following day at the Lumsden Arena.
Estevan scored four times in the first 10 1/2 minutes of the first period of Game 1. Carter Beck scored twice for Estevan, and Emmett McCarthy and Ryker Mathison also scored in the early offensive barrage.
Lumsden would get one before the first period was out, and it remained a 4-1 game until Sutter Baily scored midway through the third.
Game 2 saw the Lions take an early 1-0 lead, but then Estevan responded with five goals in the final 11:30, including two in the last 68 seconds. Landon Marcotte, Jordan Marcotte, Spencer Copeland, Ty Hoste and Baily had Estevan’s goals.
The Lions scored twice in the third period to make the score respectable.
Ty Fehrenbach made 22 saves in Game 1 and 31 saves in Game 2.
The Bruins have the chance to wrap up the best-of-five quarter-final series in Game 3 Thursday night at Affinity Place, starting at 8:00 p.m.
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The Estevan Steelhaus U18 AAA Bears picked up one of a possible four points during weekend games against the Battlefords Stars.
The point came in a 4-3 overtime loss on Saturday. Kole Keen had two of the Bears’ goals. Jase Konecsni also scored for Estevan.
The Stars scored the overtime winner with 92 seconds to play.
Kaden Perron made 25 saves for Estevan.
The following day, Estevan lost 5-1 to the Stars. Blaze Gutzke scored midway through the second to tie the game, but the Stars took the lead for good when they scored a power-play goal with 13 seconds to play in the period, and then added three in the third.
Riley Deck made 36 saves for Estevan.
The Bears also lost 5-2 to the Regna Pat Canadians last Tuesday. Cade Cole and Colton Pushie had Estevan’s goals. Pushie’s marker was his first in the Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League.
The Bears (10-24-7) will visit the Yorkton Maulers on Feb. 25 and 26.
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The Estevan Meter U13 AA Bruins had their season come to an end on Feb. 15 in a 4-3 double-overtime loss at the Lumsden-Bethune Lions in the play-in game for the South Division.
After a scoreless first period, Lumsden took a 2-0 lead. Merek Wilhelm scored 2:18 into the third to cut the deficit in half, but the Lions would later take a 3-1 advantage.
Goals by Cooper Hale and Logan Hunt tied the game with less than four minutes to play.
The Lions notched the winner on a power play early in the second overtime period.
Easton Pushie made 50 saves in the contest.
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The Estevan Ironside Energy U11 AA Bruins defeated the Weyburn Wings 8-3 on Feb. 15.
Ethan Phillips had six of Estevan’s eight goals. Kolter Snell and Brooks Cote were the other scorers.
Ty Blackburn was in goal.
