The Estevan Great North U18 AAA Bears picked up two of a possible six points during a tough road trip in north-central Saskatchewan on the weekend.
The Bears lost 4-3 in overtime on Friday night and 3-2 in a shootout on Saturday in games against the Warman Wildcats, and 3-1 Sunday against the Saskatoon Blazers. The latter game was played in Humboldt.
In Friday's game, Talen Wallis opened the scoring for the Bears midway through the first period. The Wildcats tied the game before the end of the stanza and took the lead in the second, but Thomas Ries scored for Estevan with nine seconds to play in the middle frame to tie the game again.
Wallis added his second of the game early in the third for the Bears, but the Wildcats tied the game a few minutes later and Liam Bursaw had the winner 41 seconds into overtime.
Wallis added an assist to finish with a three-point game.
Kaden Perron stopped 29 shots for the Bears.
In Saturday's game, the Wildcats had a 1-0 lead from early in the first until late in the second when Roan Burgess scored for the Bears. The Wildcats took the lead in the third, but Carter Onrait scored for Estevan with 1:39 to play in regulation to send the contest to extra time.
Overtime settled nothing and the Wildcats outscored the Bears 2-0 in the penalty-shot contest.
Cole Ivey made 30 saves for the Bears.
In Sunday's game, the Blazers scored once in each period. Saskatoon opened the scoring a minute into the first period and doubled the lead early in the middle frame. Aidan Mohan's goal late in the second pulled the Bears to within one, and it remained a 2-1 game until the Blazers scored into an empty net with a second remaining in the game.
Perron made 29 saves for Estevan.
The Blazers are the defending Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League champions and have the best record in the league this season, while the Wildcats were third in the league entering play on Sunday.
Estevan 15-15-5 will be back on the ice on Jan. 17 when they visit the Yorkton Maulers.
