It's a tough start to 2025 for the Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins, as they ring in the new year with a pair of losses.
Friday saw the black-and-gold travel to the Westland Arena to face the Yorkton Terriers for their first game of the year. Even though Yorkton drew first blood when they scored a minute into the game, the Bruins were keeping pace, logging a goal halfway through from Kent Moors. Off a powerplay from a penalty on Bruins' Jagden Taylor, Yorkton would find the net again to cap the first period. Both teams would post another goal each in the second period. The Terriers would keep the pressure on the Bruins in the third period, finding the net four times, with two coming after Zach Shaughnessy replacing Benjamin Polhill five minutes in. Estevan would walk away with a 7-3 loss.
The black-and-gold were looking for redemption the following night when they welcomed their Highway 39 Rival Weyburn Red Wings inside Affinity Place. This time around, Zach Shaughnessy started for Estevan. The Red Wings found the net twice in the first period. Second period saw Benjamin Polhill come back to the ice to defend the net for the rest of the game. He was able to block all 8 shots that came his way, while Weyburn goalie Angelo Zol blocked 10, posting no goals in the period. After a heated third period filled with fights and game misconducts, the Red Wings would rip the puck into an empty net in the dying minutes of the third. The Bruins would be blanked 3-0 as a result.
The pair of losses would keep Estevan in 10th place in the league, two places back of a playoff berth. They're currently sitting behind the eighth-place Humboldt Broncos and the ninth-place La Ronge Ice Wolves with a record of 11-15-3-1 respectively. They're back on the ice this Friday when they welcome the Melville Millionaires inside Affinity Place.