ESTEVAN - The Estevan Apex U18 AA Bruins lost 2-1 in overtime to the host Martensville Marauders in Game 1 of their best-of three series.
Conrad Hase had the Bruins' lone goal, scoring with 12:50 to play in the first period. Martensville tied the game in the second, and scored the winner with 6:16 to play in the first overtime
Jaxon Kuchinka made 37 stops for Estevan, who outshot Martensville 44-39, but the Marauders had a 17-3 edge in overtime.
The series is the final for both the Saskatchewan AA Hockey League and Hockey Saskatchewan's U18 AA provincials.
Game 2 will be April 5 at 7:45 p.m., and Game 3, if necessary, would be April 6 at 6 p.m. Both games are set for Affinity Place.
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The Estevan U13 A Bruins came up just one win short in their quest for a provincial title.
The Bruins lost 4-2 to the Swift Current Broncos on March 30 at Affinity Place in Game 2 of the best-of-two provincial final.
The series was tied entering Game 2, after the two teams played to a 4-4 draw in Swift Current the week before. The winner of Game 2 would win the provincial title; if they were tied again, then there would be a 10-minute mini game to decide the championship.
Swift Current had leads of 2-0 after the first and 3-1 in the third, but Estevan scored to pull within one. The Broncos added a goal late in the third.
Kolter Snell and Jace Garagan scored for Estevan.
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The Estevan Steel Reef Bearcats 1 fell in the consolation final of the Saskatchewan Female Hockey League's U13 A division.
Estevan had a 1-0 edge in the best-of-three final after winning 5-2 in Swift Current on March 23, but Swift Current responded with two wins – 6-2 and 1-0 – on March 30 at the Power Dodge Arena in Estevan.
Avi Mack and Isla Roberts scored for Estevan in the first game.
Swift Current scored the lone goal early in the first of the second match-up.
Tayja Pehl was in goal for both games.
The games were played the day after many members of the Bearcats won a provincial championship with Estevan.
