ESTEVAN - The Estevan Bruins picked up their first victory of 2023 Wednesday night with a 5-3 win over the Yorkton Terriers at Affinity Place.
Estevan jumped on the Terriers early, as Keagon Little scored a short-handed goal 42 seconds into the first period, and Ilia Chmelevski added to the lead with a power-play goal less than five minutes later. Little’s goal was his first since rejoining the Bruins after the Christmas break.
Aiden Knutson scored for Yorkton midway through the first.
Each team scored in the opening minute of the second period, with Gabriel Filion scoring for Estevan 19 seconds into the frame and Dylan Ruptash replying 31 seconds later. Filion added his second of the period on a power play before the 10-minute mark of the stanza.
Salvatore Collora’s goal in the third gave the Bruins a three-goal advantage. Pavel McKenzie scored for Yorkton to finish the scoring.
Jackson Miller stopped 28 shots for Estevan to get the win. Caleb Allen also had 28 saves for Yorkton.
Defenceman Cutter Knight, who plays for the Estevan Steelhaus U18 AAA Bears, played for the Terriers as an affiliated player.
Estevan (21-16-1-1) will host the Notre Dame Hounds on Friday night and the Battlefords North Stars on Saturday. Both games will start at 7 p.m. Yorkton (13-23) will be back on the ice Saturday when they host the Weyburn Red Wings at 7 p.m.
