The Estevan Sherritt Coal Bruins were one victory away from winning it all at the prestigious Tournament of Champions in Brandon, Man., on the weekend.
The tournament's midget A division featured 12 teams from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Minnesota.
The Bruins won all three of their round-robin contests, then won their semifinal to advance to the final against the Redvers Rockets.
The Bruins and Rockets, familiar foes in the Moose Mountain Minor Hockey League, were tied 4-4 after two periods.
But Austin Blezy put Redvers ahead with 15:52 to play in the third and the Bruins were unable to produce the tying marker.
The Rockets had led 3-1 after the first period, but the Bruins stormed back with three tallies in the second.
Jayden Storozuk was Estevan's game MVP with a hat trick and an assist. Cole Stevenson added a goal and two assists while Landon Lavoie chipped in three helpers. Dylan McConnell stopped 23 shots in the Bruins' net.
Rockets netminder Carter Zander stopped 38 Estevan shots to earn the MVP honour for his team.
In the semis, the Bruins defeated the Holland-Treherne Rebels from Manitoba 5-3. McConnell was his team's MVP, making 36 saves.
The Bruins began the round-robin on Thursday with an 8-2 win over the St. Boniface Seals. Lavoie had a hat trick and an assist, with McConnell in goal.
The second game was a close 3-2 win against the Selkirk Steelers. Stevenson scored the winner while shorthanded. Ryan Kenzie was between the pipes in this one.
In their third round-robin game, the Bruins dumped the Valor Patriots from Winnipeg 8-3. Tanner Mack scored two goals and added an assist, with McConnell in net.
