The Estevan Bruins couldn't find any success during last night's first preseason game, as they lost to the Virden Oil Capitals 5-2.
Being a preseason game, which won't affect the season's point totals, the team decided to give some younger players experience in their game against the Capitals.
Head Coach Jason Tatarnic says that the learning experience is invaluable for those younger players.
"We lost, but we dressed it pretty young lineup you know, we didn't dress any 20-year-olds last night. So I thought the young guys were pretty nervous at the start, but as the game went on, they were a little more comfortable and showed some good things and obviously showed some things they need to work on."
"Overall, you know kind of happy with the effort considering that we put against a little bit of an older lineup last night. We're using it for evaluations. So we'll sit down saying, you know, go over the game again today."
The younger players got a hard hit in the first period where three goals were given up, with Tatarnic saying that'll be a point in their post-game talks.
"The first one is a pretty light bounce off the glass and the boards and that's one for the goaltender to learn that hockey can be pretty lively here at times with the glass and a couple of defensive zone coverage miscues throughout the game. So we'll take a look at that today and work on it."
The game wasn't all bad as the Bruins shut out the Capitals in the third and got a goal, winning the period.
Tatarnic chalks that up to the players getting used to the tougher and faster play the junior level brings.
"From almost all these guys, it was the first year or first junior game that they've actually played. So I think just getting accustomed to the speed and the physical side of the game is a big part for those guys. It's just the learning curve that they adapted well in the 3rd and had some chances to score, but missed on some opportunities. But just growing just starting to go through the process and learn how to play at the junior level."
There'll be another tough competition for those younger players soon as they face off against the Aberdeen Wings in two games on the weekend.
"Those are gonna be tough games now. They're gonna be good, they're gonna be very old, they have no limit on 20-year-olds. So we're going to face a pretty older team here, but that's going to be good for our group to face a team of that calibre," said Tatarnic. "When those things will go down, experience it, come back, and take something away from it."
Those games are set for 6 p.m. on Saturday and 5 p.m. on Sunday, both in Aberdeen.