Bruins vs. Humboldt preview

The Bruins get their first taste of the RBC host Humboldt Broncos tonight at Spectra Place. Here's a quick look at both teams. Check back a little after 7 p.m. for lineups.

Estevan Bruins (1-2)

The Bruins are coming off back-to-back losses on the weekend, although Keith Cassidy was much happier with Sunday's effort in Yorkton, a game that saw their comeback fall short despite scoring three times in 3:44 in the third period. That performance helped Calder Neufeld (2g, 1a) earn a runner-up nod for SJHL player of the week.

Dom Perrault sat out the game after taking a shot off his foot late in Saturday's contest. The foot was too swollen to play on Sunday, but he skated the next day and should be good to go tonight.

Derek Whitehill made his Bruins debut on Sunday and was dominant on a line with Josh Jelinski and Matt Dochylo. We haven't seen Whitehill in action since the first day of training camp and I think people are underestimating the impact he could make in a Bruins jersey.

Keith also said roster trimming would come "fairly soon" so we'll see if anything transpires this week. Until then, you can expect a rotating door of players going in and out of the lineup each night.

Sounds like Derek Tendler will get his fourth straight start tonight.

Humboldt Broncos (3-1)

No slow start for the favourites, who are outscoring opponents 20-6 through four games. They are also the only team to beat the Nipawin Hawks (how strange does that sound?).

Robbie Ciolfi broke out for a hat trick against the Hawks on Saturday, his first goals of the season, while playing on a line with Andrew Johnston and Matt Glowa. After that you've got the likes of Marshall, Herle, Landry, Davies, Zbitniff and Antkowiak to deal with, not to mention Josh Roach from the back end. That's going to be a big challenge for a raw Bruins blueline that has surrendered 14 goals in three games.

Despite the Broncos' ongoing attempts to bring in a money goalie, Matt Hrynkiw is no slouch himself and is fresh off goalie of the week honours.

On opening night, it was clear that the Melville Millionaires of Sept. 17 were not the same Mils we'll see all year. Humboldt has had no such problems and will be a stiff early-season test for the Bruins.

Game time is 7:30.