ESTEVAN - The Estevan Bruins picked up one point for a shootout loss during a pair of games at the La Ronge Ice Wolves on the weekend.
The point came during a 5-4 shootout loss on Friday night. Estevan came out flying in the first period, as Mitch Kohner scored 41 seconds into the game and Ilia Chmelevski doubled the lead 87 seconds later. The Bruins were outshooting the Ice Wolves 7-0 at one point in the frame.
Ryan Silzer’s goal midway through the first pulled La Ronge to within one.
Owen Barrow scored in the second period to restore the Bruins’ lead, but goals by Walker Jerome and Dallyn Peekeekoot 2 1/2 minutes apart tied the game.
Liam McInnis scored three minutes into the third to give the Ice Wolves their first lead of the night, but Kohner notched his second of the game to tie the game again.
Neither team scored in overtime, and Jerome had the only goal in the shootout.
Cam Hrdlicka made 42 saves for the Bruins in his first start of 2023 after returning from injury. Topher Chirico stopped 33 shots for La Ronge.
The following night, the Bruins lost 6-1. Chmelevski had the Bruins’ lone goal with less than six minutes to play in the third period, after the Ice Wolves were up 6-0.
Jerome had two goals and an assist, while Thomas Wright had a goal and three helpers. Ethan Strik, Dylan Handel and Lleyton Shearson scored La Ronge’s other goals.
A brief brawl erupted after La Ronge’s sixth goal.
Hrdlicka made 35 saves for the Bruins. Chirico stopped 37 shots for La Ronge.
The Bruins (23-17-1-2) will be back on the ice when they visit the Flin Flon Bombers on Jan. 27 and 28.
