CARLYLE - The Estevan Bruins closed out the pre-Christmas portion of their season Wednesday night with a 4-0 victory over the Notre Dame Hounds.
The game was played at a neutral site in Carlyle. While Notre Dame was the designated home team, the Bruins were definitely the crowd favourite due to Carlyle's relatively-close proximity to Estevan.
Evan Forrest opened the scoring for Estevan in the first period, and Mitch Kohner added to the lead early in the second.
Tim Tychonick's goal in the third gave the Bruins some more breathing room, and Gabriel Filion finished the scoring.
Cam Hrdlicka made 29 saves to pick up the shutout for Estevan. It was his fifth of the season.
The game was a fundraiser for the Carlyle Community Complex Foundation, which is fundraising for some of the added amenities that would be associated with a new school in the town. Carlyle is hoping to be approved for a new kindergarten to Grade 12 school.
Minor hockey players from the town had a scrimmage during the first intermission.
There was a good crowd at the Carlyle Sports Arena despite a snowstorm that has hit the southeast.
Estevan now has a 20-15-0-1 record. The Bruins' next game will be Jan. 6, 2023, when they host the Weyburn Red Wings.
Next week's editions of the Mercury and the Observer will have more on this story.
