ESTEVAN - The Estevan Bruins and their fans had plenty of reasons to celebrate on Tuesday night.
For one thing, the Bruins scored six unanswered goals to defeat the Yorkton Terriers 6-1 at Affinity Place.
And it was Teddy Bear Toss night. Fans tossed teddy bears and other stuffed animals onto the ice after Caelan Fitzpatrick scored the Bruins' first goal of the night with 94 seconds to play in the first period.
The game was delayed for several minutes while the bears were gathered up and taken off the ice. Then they were sorted by volunteers and taken to the Estevan Salvation Army, who will distribute them to the community.
Fitzpatrick's marker tied the game at 1-1. Karsten Kruska scored 35 seconds into the first period to give the Terriers a 1-0 lead. And Yorkton did a good job of containing the Bruins high-powered offence for most of the first period.
Yorkton also had a four-minute power play midway through the frame after Bruin forward Jamie Valentino took a high-sticking double minor, but the Bruins limited the Terriers' chances.
Estevan took over in the second. Nolan Jones scored off of a point shot early in the middle frame to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead, and Mark Rumsey tallied 45 seconds later to add to the advantage. Fitzpatrick added his second of the game midway through the period.
Yorkton had a chance to trim the lead late in the second and early in the third after Bruins forward Cody Davis was assessed a five-minute major for checking to the head, but again the Terriers couldn't convert.
Brandon Ambrozik and Kade Runke scored for Estevan in the third.
Boston Bilous made 30 saves for the Bruins in the victory. Kael DePape stopped 32 shots for Yorkton.
The Bruins (17-4-2) will have two games at home this weekend. First they will host the Battlefords North Stars Friday night at 7:30 p.m. Then they play the Melfort Mustangs Saturday night, also at 7:30 p.m.
