ESTEVAN - The Estevan Great North U18 AAA Bears won their first two games after the Christmas break, and set a new franchise record for wins in a season in the process.
The Bears defeated the Notre Dame Hounds 6-4 on Friday night at Affinity Place, and 3-2 in overtime the following night in Wilcox.
Estevan trailed Notre Dame 4-2 after two periods in Friday night's game, but stormed back with four goals in the final 15 minutes of the third to win. Carter Onrait and Jase McNichol each had two goals and an assist, while Roan Burgess had a goal and two helpers in the victory. Talen Wallis had the Bears' other goal.
Kaden Perron had 17 saves in the victory.
The Bears rallied for another victory on Saturday night. Onrait scored 40 seconds into the game to open the scoring, but the Hounds responded with two goals in the middle frame.
Onrait's second of the game in the third period tied the contest and Thomas Ries added the winner less than two minutes into overtime.
Perron made 44 saves, including 22 in the opening frame.
The victory was the 15th of the season for the Bears (15-14-3), who sit fifth in the Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League standings. The previous record for wins in a campaign was 14, set in 2021-22.
Up next for the Bears will be a road trip to northern Saskatchewan, with games at the Warman Wildcats on Jan. 12 and 13, and the Saskatoon Blazers on Jan. 14. The game against the Blazers will be played in Humboldt.
