ESTEVAN - The Estevan Bruins ended a four-game losing streak Wednesday and made one more trade before the national Junior A trade deadline.
On the ice, the Black and Gold knocked off the La Ronge Ice Wolves 3-1 at Affinity Place in a game the Bruins outshot the Ice Wolves 43-25.
Zach Burfoot opened the scoring for the Bruins in the first period, giving him a goal in every game since the Christmas break. Dylan Handel replied with a power-play goal late in the period.
Neither team scored in the second. The Ice Wolves had a two-man advantage for 53 seconds, but the Bruins carried the play, outshooting the Ice Wolves 16-9.
Ilia Chmelevski broke the tie with a power-play goal less than five minutes into the third period, and put the game away when he scored with 95 seconds to play in the third. Keagon Allison assisted on all three Bruins' goals.
Cam Hrdlicka stopped 24 shots for the Bruins. Topher Chirico made 40 saves in La Ronge's net.
The two teams will meet once again on Saturday night at Affinity Place, starting at 7 p.m.
In off-ice news, the Bruins have acquired forward Alex Papaspyropoulos from the Amarillo Wranglers of the North American Hockey League for a player development fee. The 19-year-old Papaspyropoulos, in his first year with the Wranglers, had eight goals and 17 assists in 36 games.
He's no stranger to Estevan, though. In 2021-22, he played for the Pickering Panthers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, and helped the Panthers reach the final of the Centennial Cup when it was held in Estevan.
Jan. 10 is the national junior A trade deadline.
