With the SJHL Showcase going off virtually without a hitch on the organizational side, the Estevan Bruins did their part in making sure it was a weekend to remember for everyone.
The Bruins (8-5) used a flurry of goals in the second period to defeat the Humboldt Broncos 5-3 on Friday, their second win over the RBC Cup hosts this season.
On Sunday, the team overcame a one-goal deficit in the second period to edge the Yorkton Terriers 3-2, getting revenge for three Yorkton wins earlier this year, including a sweep of a home-and-home series last week.
"Everybody's striving to put their best foot forward and sometimes you can get caught up in that, but I think our guys did a very good job of staying focused," said head coach Keith Cassidy of the Showcase atmosphere, with scouts in the audience.
"You whittle it down to a game between the boards. You gotta block out the crowd, you gotta block out whatever else is happening around you."
He called the Humboldt victory "one of our more well-rounded efforts of the year."
Friday's game was a breakout effort for rookie forward Matt Brykaliuk, who scored twice in what was likely his best game as a Bruin.
"He's a very cerebral hockey player. He knows where to be. He's got great anticipation and great vision," Cassidy said of Brykaliuk, who scored midway through the second period and added an insurance marker at 8:19 of the third on a highlight-reel goal.
"(Taylor Reich) made a good play to keep it in and somehow I got around that d-man and went backhand and scored," Brykaliuk said of his second goal, which saw him undress a Humboldt rearguard before lifting a backhander past goalie Deven Dubyk.
Tanner Froese, Dylan Smith and Derek Whitehill, with his first as a Bruin, scored the other Estevan goals.
The Bruins got out to a 4-0 lead midway through the second before surrendering goals to Andrew Herle and Joey Davies only 69 seconds apart late in the second period.
But Cassidy credited rookie netminder Steven Glass, who started both weekend games and impressed scouts, for helping the Bruins hang on.
"He is probably the most focused 18-year-old goaltender I've seen in a long time. Nothing rattles him. He's really taking to heart the idea of being calm, cool and collected out there, no matter what the situation," Cassidy said.
Andrew Johnston closed out the scoring for Humboldt with 48 seconds to play in regulation.
On Sunday, Reich scored the game's first goal from the slot about 13 minutes in. The Terriers would tie it seven minutes into the second on a quick shot over Glass's blocker on the power play.
Reich was playing on the top line with Cole Olson and Dylan Smith, with Calder Neufeld out with a groin injury.
"He's awesome. He's like our utility infielder. I can put him in any role and he just does it to the best of his ability and usually that's pretty darn good. I thought he was fantastic up there today," Cassidy said of Reich.
Yorkton then tied it about three minutes later when Brent Struble cashed in a big rebound from a shot by Jeremy Johnson.
Ben Johnstone drew the Bruins even on a wrist shot at 15:17, and Smith would score the winner from the front of the net 50 seconds into the third period.
The game was marred by an ugly hit from behind by Brenden Poncelet on Eric Baldwin in the second period.
No penalty was called by referee Derek Nernberg on the hit, which left Baldwin's face bloodied, although he returned for the third period.
"My blood pressure's up. I try not to think about it," Cassidy said after the game.
"There were some liberties taken and what I enjoyed about our team is we were team tough, we stuck up for one another but we were fairly disciplined."
Captain Josh Jelinski pummelled Poncelet on the next shift and Cassidy called it "a rallying point for us" despite the fact Jelinski missed most of the third period from the resulting penalties.
Glass, who now boasts a record of 5-1 along with a save percentage of .929, said he's been working on consistency and it's helped him get off to a hot start.
"As a team, we've been working on consistency, getting a good start every game. Rebounds, putting the puck in the corner, helping out the D, and communication is a big part of it," he said.
"We were in a little bit of a slump there and obviously both these wins are huge. It puts us back on top and gives us a little bit of separation there and we can focus on getting better each game."
