ESTEVAN - Clay Sleeva's power-play goal with less than seven minutes to play in the third period proved to be the game-winning tally in the Yorkton Terriers' 3-2 victory over the Estevan Bruins on Friday night at Affinity Place.
It was the first game of the regular season for both teams.
Yorkton came out strong in the first period and had several chances to score. Kaden Bandura opened the scoring 7:07 into the frame for Yorkton, and the Terriers outshot the Bruins 13-9 in the opening 20 minutes.
Jeremy Fortin drew the Bruins even early in the second period, and Evan Forrest put the Black and Gold ahead before the 10-minute mark of the frame, with just seconds remaining in a Bruins' power play.
JD Hall's goal with 3:11 to play in the middle stanza tied the game again.
Yorkton came out strong early in the third and had a couple great scoring chances, including a post early in the frame. Then Estevan had sustained pressure in the Yorkton zone, but couldn't convert. The Bruins outshot the Terriers 18-9 in the third.
Sleeva's goal was the only marker.
Estevan had a two-man advantage late in the third, which became a 6-on-3 advantage after the Bruins pulled goaltender Cam Hrdlicka, but still couldn't beat Caleb Allen, who stopped 42 of 44 shots.
Hrdlicka made 30 saves for the Bruins.
Prior to the game, the Estevan Bruins celebrated their 2021-22 team that won the SJHL championship. A video with highlights from last season was shown, and then Gail Chilman, a long-time Bruin fan, volunteer and billet mother, unveiled the banner.
The Bruins and Terriers will meet again on Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. in the Terriers' home opener.
