ESTEVAN - The Estevan Bruins went into Humboldt on Wednesday night and emerged with a victory over one of the top junior A teams in the country.
Carievale's Turner McMillen scored twice, including the game-winner 2:05 into overtime, and Estevan's Jackson Miller made 39 saves to lift the Bruins to a 3-2 overtime victory over the Humboldt Broncos.
Humboldt was the fourth-ranked team in the country entering Wednesday night's game and has yet to lose in regulation. All three of their losses have been in overtime.
Matthew Van Blaricom opened the scoring midway through the first period for Humboldt. Van Blaricom has nine goals in eight games this season despite still being eligible to play U18 hockey, and was recently listed in the preliminary rankings for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft by the NHL's Central Scouting Service.
McMillen scored 69 seconds into the middle frame to tie the game, but Jeter Korte replied with a goal 6 1/2 minutes later.
Owen Barrow tied the game again 17 seconds into the third period.
Humboldt outshot the Bruins 41-30, including 11-3 in the third period and 5-2 in overtime. Benjamin Motew made 27 saves for the Broncos.
The victory ended the Bruins' three-game losing streak. Estevan (4-5-0-2) will be back on the ice Friday night when they host the reigning SJHL champions, the Battlefords North Stars. The game will start at 7 p.m.
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The Estevan Great North U18 AAA Bears also picked up a big win on Wednesday, defeating the Regina Pat Canadians 5-3 at Affinity Place.
It was the Bears' first-ever regular season victory over Regina. This is the Bears' third full season in the Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League.
Estevan had the lone goal in the first period when Roan Burgess scored with 6:42 to play.
Regina tied the game 20 seconds into the second period, but then Thomas Ries and Kobe Wotta tallied less than 2 1/2 minutes apart to give Estevan a 3-1 advantage.
The two teams traded goals from there. Regina scored before the second period was out to pull within one. Wotta notched his second of the game to restore the two-goal lead. Regina would pull within a goal a second time, but Ries added his second of the game into an empty net with a second remaining to finish the scoring.
Kaden Perron and Cole Ivey split the goaltending duties.
Estevan (5-4-0-2) will play two games this weekend against the Yorkton Maulers. The two teams will meet Saturday night at the Carlyle Sports Arena at 7 p.m., and then they will play again the following afternoon at 2:30 p.m. at Affinity Place. The Bears will be the designated home team for the game in Carlyle.
