The 2011-12 Bruins made sure that at least one Estevan team would win on New Year's Day, defeating the Weyburn Red Wings 3-2 in a game they never trailed.
The Red Wings had won their first Challenge Cup earlier in the afternoon, defeating the Bruins 9-5 in the alumni game.
In the second game of the day, Calder Neufeld's top shelf goal on the power play midway through the second stood up as the winner.
That marker made it 3-1, a score that would hold up until eight minutes into the third when Austin Yano was caught up ice, Tyler Kauk fell and Jesse Ross scored on the resulting breakaway.
Cole Olson had opened the scoring just 23 seconds into regulation when he took a feed from Dylan Smith in the corner and caught Mitch Kilgore off guard with a quick short side goal.
Weyburn's Keegan Bruce tied it five minutes later when the puck took an odd hop off the end boards and Steven Glass was caught out of the net.
Yano responded at the 15:43 mark when his power play shot skimmed off the back of Coltyn Sanderson, who had dropped to block the shot, and ricocheted in under the crossbar.
The win was an important one to start 2012 on a positive note after a forgettable 6-1 loss in Weyburn two days earlier.
In the alumni game, the Bruins got two goals each from Karry Biette (1989-90) and Brant Kersey (1996-99), along with a single from Blaine Chrest (1981-84). But they couldn't stop Weyburn's Eric Calibaba, who scored at least four goals by my count (it was tough to track the Weyburn scorers because they had about five players not listed on their roster).
Starting goalies were Nick Sereggela for the Bruins and Tanner Erickson for the Wings. Here's the rest of the Estevan roster: Brant Kersey (96-99), Wade Grimes (00-03), Kyle Garagan (06-09), Jamie Wrigley (85-87), Ed McMillan (86-90), Kevin Pastachak (83-86), Dan McKersie (86-90), Cam Kayter (92-94), Chris Hammett (03-05), Rod Fagerheim (71-72), Steve Godfrey (84-86), Blaine Chrest (81-84), Lucas Stubel (08-11), Colin McKersie (86-88), Ben Findlay (10-11), Tim Lequyer (82-86), Karry Biette (89-90), Murray Salaway (77-80), Dave Lavoie (77-80). Bruin coaches were Gary McKechney, Ambie Hengen and Brad Pierson along with trainer Gerry Aspen.
Before the second game, a ceremony was held to induct five new members to the Bruin Builder Hall of Fame: Gord Tenold, a long-time volunteer (scorekeeper, penalty box etc.); Dave Matchett, bookkeeper for 30-plus years and executive member; Gary McKechney, longest-serving coach in team history; the late Dr. Yusri Wahba, team doctor for 26 years; and Rod Fagerheim, a former player and coach who helped create the team's alumni association.
Check Wednesday's paper for interviews with Karry Biette, Blaine Chrest, Keith Cassidy and Cole Olson, along with a post-Christmas team report.
