(Photo courtesy: Byron Fichter photography // Estevan Bruins Twitter)
For the first time since 1998-1999, the Estevan Bruins are the champions of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
The Bruins shutout the Flin Flon Bombers 2-0 in Game 7 of the final on Friday night, thanks to a 29 save performance from Boston Bilous, who had a pair of shutouts in the final.
Flin Flon played a good road period in the first, keeping things scoreless, but Estevan defenseman Kian Calder opened the scoring five minutes into the second period with a seeing eye wrister that went along the ice, off the post and in through a crowd. The third period saw Olivier Pouliot draw a four minute double minor high sticking call, and then score on what was a 4-on-3 powerplay to extend the lead. Pouliot finished the SJHL playoffs with a league-best 11-goals and 22-points in 15-games. Bilous was named SJHL playoff MVP with a 12-3-1 record, 2.00 GAA and .928% to go along with the two shutouts.
Cal Schell was brilliant all series in goal for the Bombers, making 28/30 saves in Game 7, finishing with an 11-5-0-2 record, 2.13 GAA, .934% in the playoffs.
Both the Bruins and Bombers will compete for a National Junior ‘A’ Championship when the Bruins host the Centennial Cup at Affinity Place beginning on May 19th.