Bruins put up nine-spot on Hounds

Once again, the Estevan Bruins have demonstrated that they have no issues with scoring goals.

For the fifth time this year - all of them at Spectra Place - the Bruins scored six goals or more in a 9-2 pounding of the Notre Dame Hounds. It was also their second nine-spot against the Hounds this year.

Calder Neufeld scored his second hat trick in three games, with all three goals coming in a 14-minute span between the second and third period.

Austin Yano was also a standout, with three assists and a shorthanded goal with nine seconds left that came off a rebound of a Ben Johnstone breakaway.

Matt Dochylo, Derek Whitehill, Cole Olson, Eric Baldwin and Taylor Reich had the other markers.

This one didn't look like it had the makings of a blowout in the first period. The Bruins didn't look good in the first 10 minutes and surrendered the opening goal to Ben Morgan. But they turned it around and got goals from Dochylo, Whitehill and Olson before the end of the period.

Then they scored twice in a 2:13 span in the first half of the second period and the rout was on. The Bruins would pump seven past Ty Reichenbach before he got the hook in favour of Matt Smidt.

Despite having more than a healthy cushion to work with, Steven Glass didn't lose focus in the third period and made some huge stops to keep the Hounds to two goals (including one that I'm not at all convinced went in).

I thought Matt Dochylo was a guy who really set the tone tonight. His goal came the same way most of his do - by grinding it out and, in this case, knocking in a rebound. I also thought Connor Milligan was a rock, logging a ton of minutes to go with his two apples.

Cole Olson was with Reich and Froese and impressed me again. He might be near the top of the SJHL scoring race but he also brings a consistent work ethic and has been one of if not the best defensive forward on the team this year in my mind.

Neufeld now stands at 18 goals, five ahead of Dylan Smith and Jesse Ross. Neufeld, Olson and Smith have accounted for 36 of the team's 76 goals this year, or 47 per cent.

Michael Hengen sat out the game with a minor tweak to his knee and, as Keith explains below, he only sat out because it's relatively early in the season and they have the luxury of having 12 other capable forwards.

Matt Brykaliuk also left the game in the second period after taking what looked like a hit from behind. Baldwin moved up to the wing after that.

Here's some post-game for you. Also, we've begun taping the post-game interviews, so check the Mercury's website sometime tomorrow to see Keith's face for radio on film! Haha.

Keith Cassidy Oct. 25 by lewis94