Bruins vs. Weyburn weekend preview

Good morning. We are gearing up for what should be two great games between the Bruins and Red Wings this weekend, first tonight in Weyburn and then tomorrow in Estevan.

There seems to be an extra level of hype around these two games after the Bruins made two deals to add a lot of grit to their roster.

On that note, there should be more Bruins news to pass on later today. I'll also get an injury update later. Stay tuned.

Tyler Paslawski isn't a guy who'll drop the gloves often, but he brings a power forward kind of game and will be counted on to win the physical battles that Keith Cassidy has talked about his team not having the fire to win as of late. I'm really looking forward to seeing him in his first game.

Dylan Schellenberg, meanwhile, is an enforcer who will no doubt be looking to make his mark tonight as he gets an early taste of the Estevan-Weyburn rivalry. According to a comment on dropyourgloves.com, he "throws like a jackhammer" and one of his first questions when he arrived here was how many fights are allowed in a season before suspensions kick in.

But these are more than token rivalry games with some new faces. The Wings and Bruins, along with Melville, are in a tight battle for first place in the Sherwood right now. A pair of wins would vault the Bruins past Weyburn and possibly Melville, depending on how their series with Yorkton goes.

Estevan Bruins (16-10, 3rd in Sherwood)

The Bruins have been getting a good deal of secondary scoring lately. The Hengen-Johnstone-Ostertag line has been very good and will be expected to keep chipping in this weekend. And the Reich-Whitehill-Dochylo checking unit has been terrific considering the absence of Josh Jelinski. I can't say how impressed I've been with Reich - he truly is playing like a veteran and he's been easily the best rookie forward this year, not to take anything away from the other guys. Keith's description of him earlier this year as a "utility infielder" was on the money - not so much in terms of talent, but the fact that he's reliable in any role you put him in.

On the back end, Connor Milligan was hoping to return to the lineup this weekend and if he does, that will be a MASSIVE shot in the arm. He's been tremendous since being acquired from Camrose and you can see the Bruins have clearly missed his veteran presence. There's also a new face in Tyler Poskus. Not sure if he'll be in the lineup tonight.

Weyburn Red Wings (17-9-0-1, 1st in Sherwood)

The Wings, I don't have to tell you, are on fire. I'll be the first to admit that I didn't see them contending for first place at any point this season. But between the dominant top line of Jesse Ross, Coltyn Sanderson and Keegan Bruce, and the stalwart goaltending of Mitch Kilgore, they have put together a remarkable stretch of play over the last few weeks. They've also got the likes of Dylan Coupal and reigning SJHL D-man of the week Jens Johnson on the back end, along with the duo of Carter Struthers and Tyler Borstmayer.

Although Weyburn has gotten production out of newcomers Miguel Pereira, Jack Kennelly and Trent Hermary, they do need more secondary scoring if you ask me. They were in on the Paslawski sweepstakes and I wouldn't be surprised if they add a top six forward before Dec. 1.

I'm planning on heading up for the game tonight, so check back for a post-game recap.

Bruins make deal with Drumheller

The Bruins have acquired '93 right winger Dylan Schellenberg from the Drumheller Dragons (AJHL) for future considerations.

Schellenberg is in his third season with the Dragons already and should add some grit up front.

The move gives the Bruins 13 healthy forwards, 15 when Jelinski and Baldwin return.

Stats:

Another trade coming

The Bruins have another trade coming down the pipe involving a forward from out of province.

Should be done either tonight or tomorrow, so check back for the details.

Tyler Paslawski on joining Bruins

I caught up with new Bruin Tyler Paslawski this afternoon. Here's what he had to say about coming to Estevan.

Reaction to the trade?

I was pretty surprised. I didn’t quite know where I was going to go, but it worked out pretty good. Estevan is a good place and their coach sounds like a good guy. I played with a couple of them in midget (Calder Neufeld and Ryan Ostertag).

On why he requested a trade from the Hawks:

I wasn’t happy with (Doug Johnson's) coaching. I wasn’t getting as much ice time as I’d like to have. I felt like I was being underplayed.

Happy that it's Estevan?

(Spectra Place) is a great facility. I’m pretty excited. (Also has family in Weyburn.)

On what he can bring to the Bruins:

I’m a physical guy, pretty good shot, looking to create a lot of offence, create room for my players. I expect to get a lot done, put up some numbers and hopefully win a championship. That’s the goal.

On Tyler Poskus:

He’s a really smart guy. Once he gets a little older and gets more experience in the league ... (going from) midget AA to the SJ is a pretty big step. He moves the puck really well, hard passer, so he’s a good guy.

Bruins acquire Tyler Paslawski (UPDATED with Cassidy audio)

The Bruins have shaken things up a little with a five-player trade with the Nipawin Hawks today.

Joining the Bruins are 19-year-old right winger Tyler Paslawski and 18-year-old defenceman Tyler Poskus.

Heading to Nipawin are 18-year-old centre Jesse Bernard as well as prospect forwards Garrett Lockeridge and Brendan Hopkins, both '94 players.

Paslawski's size appeals to the Bruins and they hope he can fill a power forward role. He will start on a line with Derek Whitehill and Taylor Reich.

If you read the SJHL Preview released by the Mercury this year, I pegged Paslawski as one of 10 breakout players in the SJHL and I still believe he'll have a big year.

Paslawski's stats:


I don't know as much about Poskus, but he's a rookie defenceman who's gotten into 12 games with the Hawks. Keith Cassidy said he's heard him described as a guy who would run through a wall to make a play.

The main player going the other way is Jesse Bernard. There was a lot of hype when he signed with the Bruins because he led the Manitoba AAA league in scoring last year. However, he's struggled in the early going with the Bruins, with no points through 20 games. I've seen some improvement in his game (in fact, Keith and I discussed him in our post-game interview which you can listen to in the post below this) but he has a long way to go.

Lockeridge is a '94 forward playing for the Regina Pat Canadians. His stats:


Hopkins is a '94 forward with the Saskatoon Blazers. He was at a WHL camp this year and really looked good in the Bruins' camp. Probably could have played here this year. His stats:


At the end of the day, the Bruins felt they could make this deal because of a very strong group of '93 forwards that has represented itself well, and several other '94 players who could easily come in next year and contribute.

UPDATE: Here's what Keith Cassidy had to say about the trade.

Keith Cassidy re: Tyler Paslawski trade by lewis94

Bruins-Stars recap; trade imminent

Good afternoon. Before getting into last night's game, it appears the Bruins have a multi-player trade in the works. I don't know yet what the team is giving up. More later when the trade is official.

The Battlefords North Stars showed last night why they are the top team in the SJHL, controlling the majority of the play and largely shutting down a Bruins' offence that ranks first in the league.

Both teams probably could have scored more, but great goaltending from Steven Glass and Connor Creech held it to a 4-1 final, including an empty-netter.

The Stars opened the scoring less than four minutes in when Blake Tatchell fed Braeden Johnson for a tap-in on a 2-on-1. Tanner Quinn made it 2-0 midway through the second on a centering pass from Ryne Keller.

The Bruins got on the board early in the third when Tyler Kauk's wrister got through traffic and past Creech.

Just as the Bruins were close to tying it up, the Neufeld/Olson/Smith line failed to get the puck out and it cost them as Brett Miller roofed a shot over Glass to make it 3-1. Quinn would add an empty-netter.

Steven Glass was phenomenal for the Bruins, making some saves he had no business making. The Stars easily could have had a couple more goals. At the other end, there were a few more chances the Bruins should have finished on. The one that really comes to mind is when Neufeld had pretty much the whole net to shoot at late in the second and Creech somehow kept it out.

On the injury front, Matt Brykaliuk is day-to-day and Connor Milligan says he's targeting next weekend for a tentative return. It's a little less clear when Josh Jelinski and Eric Baldwin might be back.

Post-game interviews:

Taylor Reich Nov. 19 by lewis94

Keith Cassidy Nov. 19 by lewis94

Smith hat trick leads Bruins over Klippers

The Bruins doubled up the Kindersley Klippers 6-3 tonight in one of the most entertaining, freewheeling games I've seen in a while at Spectra Place.

It might not have been the most technically sound game, but it had end-to-end rushes, pretty passing plays, big hits and big saves.

It was a game that I thought was closer than the score would indicate. The Klippers had some prolonged stretches where they really pressured in the Bruins' end but they weren't able to finish plays off the way the Bruins did.

The Klippers drew first blood when the puck hit a skate in front and bounced to Jesse Mysiorek for his 12th of the year, but the Bruins rebounded with three goals in the first period and they kept pressing from there.

This was one of the better games this year for the Neufeld-Olson-Smith line, with Smith netting a hat trick. Neufeld and Smith also had multi-point nights. Neufeld is normally more of a goal scorer, but he set up Smith with a couple of beauties tonight for tap-ins.

The Hengen-Johnstone-Ostertag was very good again and Hengen got his second goal in as many contests, which has to give him some added confidence in his game.

Some of the other Bruins who really looked good were Taylor Reich, Matt Dochylo and Jeff Bartel.

And then there was Brandon Stone. He made a few absolutely spectacular saves, especially with the glove. A couple of them were highlight of the night variety. It's gotta be tough on these guys when they go a week or more without a start, but he made the most of his turn in the cage tonight.

Brandon Halbgewachs, a 17-year-old forward from the Regina Pat Canadians, was called up as an AP and he didn't look out of place. He was one of the more impressive youngsters in camp and he played a solid grinding game tonight with a few hits.

All in all, a very good showing for the Bruins to open up Parents Weekend and tomorrow will be a big test against the SJHL-leading Battlefords North Stars. Steven Glass will start tomorrow night.

Here's a detailed scoring summary: http://www.estevanmercury.ca/article/20111119/ESTMERCURY0204/111119834/-1/estmercury02/smith-paces-bruins-to-win-over-klippers

Keith Cassidy Nov. 18 by lewis94

UPDATE: Bruins vs. Klippers preview

Three days after a 7-2 win over the Notre Dame Hounds in Wilcox, the Bruins are back on home ice tonight for their first meeting with the Kindersley Klippers this season.

The Bruins will again be without several key players tonight. Connor Milligan and Josh Jelinski continue to skate but are still out. Eric Baldwin's injury from the hit he took from Marc-Andre Carre last weekend will continue to keep him out. Also, Matt Brykaliuk has an upper-body injury that also kept him out of Tuesday's game against the Hounds.

There may be a callup coming later in the day.

You look at the standings and you'd think this is an easy two points for the Bruins, but you can't safely predict any game in the SJHL this year, really. Case in point: the game against Melfort earlier this month where the Bruins almost blew it.

I spent the last three years covering the Klippers, but this is a much different team than the ones I knew. This will be my third look at them this year along with their two games at Showcase.

Estevan Bruins (15-9, 2nd in Sherwood)

The Bruins have cooled off a bit after their hot start, but to be fair, they've managed to win two of their last four games while dealing with some significant injuries. Having Yano back is a huge boost to their offensive attack as he can either start the rush with a great first pass or carry it up himself. He had three points in his first game back.

Some of the Bruins' secondary scorers are starting to heat up. The most obvious is Ryan Ostertag, who was one of their best players against La Ronge, scored a beauty of a goal and followed that up with two goals and an assist against the Hounds. If he can find a little more consistency in his game, he can be a dangerous threat. Also, third-year forward Michael Hengen scored his first goal of the year Tuesday. It was his first goal since Feb. 13, 2010, since he missed almost all of last year with a knee injury.

That line of Ostertag, Hengen and Johnstone was the Bruins' best against La Ronge and all three players figured in the scoring on Tuesday. The Bruins need them to keep it up.

Kindersley Klippers (6-14-2-1, 6th in Sherwood)

It's been a rough start for the Klippers after losing a lot of talent from last year either through graduation or trades, including a few that didn't bring anything back. The good news for them is they're only three points from getting out of the Sherwood basement. This game is the first in a six-game road trip for them, so they'll be motivated to start the trip on a good note, especially since they've lost five straight games, and eight of their last nine.

The line of Taylor Duzan, Jordon Hoffman and Jesse Mysiorek leads the way for the Klippers, although Duzan has spent some time injured and is off to, by his standards, an average start. Wheaton King and D. Jay McGrath are other players to watch for up front.

David Haaf and recent acquisition Troy Gedny are heavily relied upon on the back end, while Justin McDonald and Fraser Abdallah have split starts in goal.

With some strong veterans and a few talented rookies, it's a team that could probably be getting better results than they've shown, but that hasn't been the case so far.

I'll be doing colour for tonight's game alongside Klippers play-by-play man Brenden Ullrich.