Thank You

In case you don't follow me on Twitter but I announced today that I've stepped down as the Play by Play Announcer for the Estevan Bruins and New/Sports Anchor for Goldenwest Radio in Estevan.

I'll provide a more appropriate Thank You blog posting before my final day which is next Friday, but I quickly want to thank everyone who has made these last 5 years in Estevan so great.

Thanks Again!

Estevan Bruins Spring Camp

The Estevan Bruins held their Spring Camp this weekend, and I had the chance to speak with Bruins Scout (former Assistant Coach) Cole Zahn about the camp and what's next for the Bruins.

Q an A with Riders Weston Dressler, Geroy Simon and Corey Chamblin at Estevan Football Dinner

It was another successful Estevan Football Fundraiser Dinner last night at the Days Inn Plaza. The guest speakers of the evening were the Saskatchewan Roughriders Head Coach Corey Chamblin, newcomer Geroy Simon and the popular Weston Dressler.

All the money raised will be going to the football program here in Estevan. I had a chance to speak with all three speakers.

Geroy Simon

                                                                       Corey Chamblin

                                                                                  

Cassidy Removed as Head Coach/GM of the Bruins

 

The Estevan Bruins announced today they would be parting ways with Keith Cassidy. I apoligize I won't be able to provide more details as I'm away on vacation until next week.

 

Here's the statement from the team

 

The executive of the Estevan Bruins Hockey Club would like to announce it has decided not to renew the contract of head coach and general manager Keith Cassidy. He will no longer handle head coach and GM duties effective immediately.
"We would like to thank Keith for his contributions to the Bruins organization. Keith played a key role in the team's transition to Spectra Place and has been a strong ambassador in the community," said president Jeff Pierson. "However this is a results based business and there is no getting around the fact the past year was a disappointing one. We feel our fans deserve a winning team and we will take all steps necessary to make that happen."
Pierson added that the search for a new head coach and GM will begin immediately.

Final Postgame Interview from Mar.16

While the Bruins season came to an end last Saturday, it has been much offseason so far for myself with the Big 6 Playoffs and work at the radio station. But he's the audio from the postgame of last Saturday's loss to Yorkton with Head Coach Keith Cassidy. I'll post a few thoughts tomorrow.

Bruins Season Comes to an End with 6-3 loss to Yorkton

The 2012-13 season came to an end for the CanElson Drilling Estevan Bruins as they were defeated by the Yorkton Terriers 6-3.

The Bruins fell behind early as Patrick Martens knocked in a loose rebound to get the Terriers on the scoreboard. The Bruins had a great chance to tie the game in the first period as they went on the powerplay for 5 minutes including a 5 on 3 for about a minute. But the Bruins weren't able to capitalize as Jeremy Johnson scored a short handed goal to make it a 2-0.

Estevan would get on the scoreboard shortly afterwards as Tanner Froese knocked in a loose puck in and made it 2-1 after the first. The Bruins dominated the shot clock as they outshot the Terriers 21-6 in the period but the Terriers Dawson MacAuley was outstanding in net.

In the second period Kailum Gervais scored on a wraparound the gave Yorkton a 4-2 win. The Bruins answered back shortly afterwards as Hudson Morrison scored on the powerplay to make it 4-3. But late in the period Martens scored on the powerplay to make it 5-3 after the second period.

In the third period the Bruins were unable to close the gap as they remained down by a pair of goals. Yorkton extended their lead as Martens scored his third goal of the evening as he crashed in the net and was able to get the puck past the goal line according to the refs eyes before the net came off its moorings. The Bruins answered back shortly as Calder Neufeld scored to make it 5-3. But the Bruins couldn't close the gap as Tyler Giebel finished off the game with an empty net to make the final 6-3.

The Terriers will move on to the Sherwood Conference while the Bruins are now looking ahead to next year.

The Bruins will lose 7 20 year olds to graduation in Curtis Martinu, Alex Cote, Tyler Paslawski, Connor Milligan, Calder Neufeld, Dylan Smith and Cole Olson.

Bruins On the Brink of Elimination after 2-1 Loss

It was another close one goal loss for the CanElson Drilling Estevan as the Yorkton Terriers defeated the Bruins 2-1 which leaves the Bruins on the brink of elimination as they trail in the series 3-1.

The Bruins came out firing in the first period as they had several opportunities to get the lead but were unable to beat the Terriers Dawson MaCauley. Instead it was Yorkton would picked up the lead as Brady Norrish took the puck from his blue line and went inside of the Bruins zone and buried a shot past the Bruins Curtis Martinu to make it 1-0.

In the second period, the Bruins once again ran into penalty trouble. While the Bruins were able to kill off the three penalties, the Bruins weren't able to gain the momentum until late in the second period when they received a powerplay opportunity. The Bruins had their chances but once again couldn't solve MaCauley as the Bruins remain down 1-0 after two periods.

In the third period the Bruins were able to get on the scoreboard after a hardworking shift from Taylor Reich, Brett Dumaine and Wyatt Garagan. The shift ended with Garagan burying a shot top shelf to tie the game at 1-1.

The Terriers came back with a flurry of chances after the Garagan and with just over 6 minutes left, Tyler Giebel knocked a shot past Martinu to make it 3-2. The Bruins were unable to register the tying goal and now face elimination tomorrow night in Yorkton.

Game 5 of the series can be heard on CJ1280 and discoverestevan.com beginning at 7:15.

Bruins Head Coach Keith Cassidy comments on the game.

Bruins Lose 2-1 to Yorkton and Now Trail 2-1 in Series

The CanElson Drilling Estevan Bruins pushed the Yorkton Terriers to the limit last night but it was not enough as the Terriers won 2-1 and with the victory, the Terriers lead the series 2-1.

It was an even game through the first 40 minutes, while the shot clock read 21-12, the chances were even as the Bruins had several opportunities but weren't able to capitalize. Brett Blatz had a great chance for the opening goal in the second period but rang a shot of the crossbar. Wyatt Garagan also had a great chance but had a shot go wide by a couple of inches.

At the other end of the ice, the Bruins Curtis Martinu was making lives difficult for the Terriers as Yorkton struggled getting a shot past Martinu. The 20 year old goalie flashed the leather on numerous occasions with some big glove saves including a great chance from the Terrier Captain Devon McMullen.

In the final period, Patrick Martens was able to sneak in behind the Bruins defence and unleashed a lazer of a shot past Martinu to give the Terriers the lead early in the period. Martens would add his 4th goal of the series halfway thru the period when he picked up a turnover in the neutral zone and proceeded to move in on a breakaway and beat Martinu to make it 2-0.

The Bruins didn't go down without a fight as Tanner Froese got the Bruins on the scoreboard with 56 seconds remaining after deflecting Connor Milligan's shot to make it 2-1. But the Bruins were unable to get the equalizer as they fell 2-1.

Game 4 of the series is now set for tomorrow night in Estevan and the game can be heard on CJ1280 and discoverestevan.com beginning at 7:15.

Bruins and Terriers 1-1 After Bruins Win 5-2

The CanElson Drilling Estevan Bruins evened up their series with the Yorkton Terriers after a 5-2 victory at Spectra Place.

The Bruins wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as Hudson Morrison's shot was knocked in by Calder Neufeld 15 seconds into the game as the Bruins lead 1-0. The Bruins had other opportunities to extend their lead in the period but were unable to capitalize. With 1:01 left in the period, the Terriers tied the game up as Kalium Gervais knocked in a loose rebound to even up the score after 20 minutes.

The second period was all Bruins, it started with Dylan Smith forcing a turnover at the Terrier's blueline, Smith would drop a pass for Alex Cote who scored on the low blocker side to give the Bruins. The Bruins didn't get a powerplay until late in the second period but it quickly turn into a 5 on 3. The Bruins would take full advantage as Neufeld found Smith in front of the net and Smith scored to make 3-1. 13 seconds later, Terriers goalie Dawson Macauley attempted to clear the puck from his zone and the puck right to Tanner Froese who fired it into the Terriers net to make it 4-1 after two periods.

The Terriers made things interesting as Devon McMullen scored in the opening minute of the third period to make it 4-2 but the Bruins would get a 5 minute powerplay as Dylan Baer was called for a 5 minute major for boarding penalty on Hudson Morrison. Estevan would put the game away in the third period as Smith scored on a great feed from Cole Olson to end the scoring at 5-2. The bad blood started to boil in the final minutes between as the series is shaping up to be a very heated one.

Curtis Martinu made 25 saves in the win while the Bruins powerplay went 3 for 5 and Yorkton was 0 for 4.

Game 3 is Tuesday night in Yorkton and you can catch it on CJ1280 and discoverestevan.com beginning at 7:15.

After the game Bruins Head Coach Keith Cassidy comments on the win.

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                                                Smith also comments on  the win.

Bruins Drop Game 1 against Yorkton

The CanElson Drilling Estevan Bruins got off to a rough start in their series with the Yorkton Terriers as the Bruins lost 6-1.

The Terriers scored a pair of quick goals early in the game to gain a 2-0 lead before the Bruins Dylan Smith the lead to 2-1 late in the first. But late in the first period Yorkton scored to make it 3-1 after one period.

In the second period the Bruins had a couple of good chances to score including Dylan Smith hitting the crossbar but it remained 3-1 until late in the second period when Yorkton would score two goals in a 1:04 span to make it 5-1.

The third period was filled with penalties for the Bruins and they almost survived except late in the third the Terriers added one final goal to make it 6-1.

The Bruins Curtis Martinu made 32 saves in the loss for the Bruins.

Game 2 will go tonight in Estevan at Spectra Place, a game you can catch on CJ1280 and discoverestevan.com beginning at 7:15