The Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings found themselves in a deficit after the first period against the Estevan Bruins Saturday night, and despite outshooting and outscoring the Bruins in the second and third periods, weren’t able to rally for a win in a home opener. Estevan would leave Crescent Point Place with a 6-3 win, handing the Wings their second loss to start the season.  

“We didn’t start on time, same thing as in Yorkton, and I’ll put the blame on myself,” said Red Wings head coach Cody Mapes after the game. “We’ve got to have these guys ready, and we’re going to have to make sure we start on time in practice and we’re not doing that right now so things are going to change.” 

As it often is the case when the Wings play the Bruins, penalties played a factor, with the two teams combining for 119 penalty minutes. This resulted in Weyburn giving up nine power-play opportunities, and two power-play goals. Meanwhile, the Wings went one for five with the man advantage in the game. 

“The only reason it’s not a 4-3 game is because we decided to take some penalties and that’s only the life they had in the second and third periods is when we were in the penalty box,” Mapes added.  

Estevan opened the scoring early in the first period when Caelan Fitzpatrick scored his second of the season just 2:16 into the matchup. He would then make it 2-0 Estevan at the 6:33 mark, scoring while shorthanded. A goal from Antoine St. Onge with 7:12 remaining in the first made it 3-0, and then Kade Runke rounded out the scoring with a power-play tally at the 16:47 mark of the frame. 

The four goals in the first period ended the night for starting goaltender Joseph Young. He would be replaced for the start of the second by rookie Dazza Mitchell, who did his best to give his team a chance to get back into the game. 

Weyburn responded to the four goals in the first period with a goal of their own just 5:59 into the second, as Braden Birnie put the puck past Estevan goalie Boston Bilous. He was assisted on the marker by Shayde Peterson and Graham Skinner. 

Estevan expanded the lead in the third, however, as Mark Rumsey scored on the power play at the 5:58 mark of the final frame, and Brandon Ambrozik made it 6-1 with 12:33 left in the period. 

Then, Weyburn would add more pressure to try to close the gap. It started with a shot from Davis Chorney that found the twine behind Bilous with 8:56 to play in regulation. He was assisted on the goal by Ty Mason. Then, 3:03 later, captain Dante Ballarin would tap the puck into a yawning cage on the power play to make it 6-3. His marker was assisted by Ian Maier and Jacob Jakusz.  

The Red Wings will have a day of practice now Sunday, before heading to Warman for the SJHL Showcase on Monday. They will take the ice against the Humboldt Broncos Monday afternoon, then the Nipawin Hawks on Wednesday.