The Estevan TS&M Bruins continue to pick up steam in the new year, winning their second straight game Saturday with a 5-3 victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors.
It's the third win in the last four games for the Bruins (5-13-2), who pulled into a tie with Moose Jaw for last in the Saskatchewan Bantam AA Hockey League.
"We were on the right path. The team's played well for most of the year and we're starting to play a lot more disciplined hockey," said TS&M Bruins head coach Dan Pratt. "Things we've worked on in practice for a while are finally starting to pay off.
"It seems like finally we're on the winning end of those efforts. We're capitalizing more, we're shooting the puck better, players are buying into a lot more of the team stuff that we're doing."
Tyran Brown had a goal and two assists for Estevan, with Kyle Salaway, Bryson Mayer, Kaelan Holt and Brady Third adding the other goals.
"We don't have (one) scoring line, we have three solid lines right now," said Pratt. "We got a really good effort out of the Holt-Salaway-Brown line. They worked hard in all three zones of the ice."
Bryson Mayer was moved to forward and Preston Hutt was moved to defence, and Pratt was happy with the results.
"Was I ever impressed with them. They just looked like veterans in those positions. I think it revealed a lot of the character on the team."
The two teams traded goals in the first period, with Bhody Magnusson opening the scoring for the Warriors and Brown replying for the Bruins.
Moose Jaw took a 3-2 lead after the second period, getting additional goals from Magnusson and Zach Hagerman.
But the Bruins stormed back in the third, tying it on Mayer's goal midway through the period.
Holt would score the game-winner on the power play three minutes later, and Third added an empty netter with 10 seconds remaining.
"We feel a lot more confident playing tight games now. Our guys believe in what we're doing and the system we're playing," said Pratt. "We know that if you start to hurry things, you start to make mistakes. Guys are sticking to what works. The D played a tremendous game on Saturday."
Pratt said a major reason for the team's recent success has been more disciplined play. He singled out forward Marc Shaw for keeping his nose clean.
"Marc Shaw, in my opinion, is one of the top players in the province. He spent a lot of the first half of the season in the penalty box. He's cleaned up his game in the last little while and it's unbelievable what that kid can do when he plays a full game."
With 12 points, the Bruins are now within three points of overtaking five other teams in the standings.
"It's certainly a source of motivation right now in the room. We have tremendous leadership on the team. Our captain, Tanner Jeannot, is such a great leader, but it's not only the guys with letters," Pratt said.
The Bruins' next regular season action is Feb. 4 when they visit the Sask. Valley Vipers in Martensville.
