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Estevan Bruins
CityEstevan, Saskatchewan
LeagueSJHL
DivisionViterra
Founded1948
Home arenaAffinity Place
ColoursGold and black
General managerJason Tatarnic
Head coachJason Tatarnic
Websitewww.estevanbruins.com
Franchise history
1971–presentEstevan Bruins
Previous franchise history
1948–1955Humboldt Indians
1955–1957Humboldt-Melfort Indians
1957–1971Estevan Bruins
1971–1981New Westminster Bruins
1981–1984Kamloops Junior Oilers
1984–presentKamloops Blazers

The Estevan Bruins are a junior ice hockey team playing in the Junior "A" Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). The team is based in Estevan, Saskatchewan, Canada, and plays at Affinity Place. They were founded in 1971, when a previous franchise called the Estevan Bruins, which played in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League from 1957 to 1966 and then the Major Junior Western Hockey League (WHL) from 1966 to 1971, relocated to New Westminster, British Columbia; that franchise is today known as the Kamloops Blazers.

The original Estevan Bruins (1957–1971)

In 1956, Scotty Munro made a presentation to the leaders of the booming oil town of Estevan. His plan was to move his Humboldt/Melfort Indians (playing in Humboldt and Melfort, Saskatchewan), which was a franchise in the original version of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (1948–1966), to Estevan. The concept of Major Junior hockey had not yet been created, so this original SJHL was playing at the top level of junior hockey in Saskatchewan; should the citizens of Estevan finance the building of a new arena, Munro would bring top-notch hockey entertainment and much-needed help for minor hockey in the town.[1]

His pitch was successful and one year later his newly renamed "Bruins" arrived in Estevan to begin the 1957–58 season in the newly built Agricultural Auditorium. At the time, the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League had six teams. The Estevan Bruins, based near the border with the United States, were the southernmost team, located 800 kilometres (500 mi) away from the northernmost team, the Flin Flon Bombers, and would make shorter trips to play the Prince Albert Minto's, Regina Pats, Saskatoon Quakers and Melville Millionaires. The league had grown to eight teams by its final season, 1965–66, then disbanded when five of its eight teams – including the Estevan Bruins – joined the newly formed Canadian Major Junior Hockey League (along with two Alberta-based teams) for the inaugural 1966–67 CMJHL season.

The CMJHL was renamed the Western Canada Junior Hockey League, expanding into Manitoba, for the 1967–68 WCHL season.[2] The Bruins scored their greatest success in that 1967–68 season, finishing second in the regular season before winning the President's Cup as WCHL playoff champions. They advanced to face British Columbia's Mowat Cup champion, the Penticton Broncos, whom they defeated to take the Abbott Cup as champion of Western Canada. The Bruins then faced Ontario's Niagara Falls Flyers, winner of Eastern Canada's George Richardson Memorial Trophy (having defeated Quebec's Verdun Maple Leafs), in a best-of-7 series for the 1968 Memorial Cup national championship. The Bruins were defeated, in five games, as the Flyers won their second Memorial Cup.

The Bruins played in Estevan through to the completion of the 1970-71 WCHL season, then relocated to New Westminster, British Columbia, where they became the New Westminster Bruins.

Season-by-season results

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Season GP W L T OTL GF GA Points Finish Playoffs
1966–67 56 33 18 5 — 273 197 71 2nd WCHL Lost semi-final
1967–68 60 45 13 2 — 262 169 90 2nd WCHL Won Championship
1968–69 60 40 28 0 — 294 195 80 2nd WCHL East Lost semi-final
1969–70 60 28 31 1 — 237 255 57 2nd WCHL East Lost quarter-final
1970–71 66 41 20 5 — 283 201 87 1st WCHL East Lost quarter-final

The modern Estevan Bruins

With the departure of the major junior Bruins, a new Bruins team was founded in Estevan that same year, which has played in the SJHL ever since. The Estevan Bruins won the SJHL championship in 1985, 1999 and 2022.[3]

Radio station CKSE-FM (Rock 106) broadcasts Bruins games. DiscoverEstevan.com covers the team on a daily basis. The team is also covered in print on a weekly basis by the Estevan Mercury and Estevan Lifestyles.[citation needed]

Season-by-season results

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Season GP W L T OTL GF GA Points Finish Playoffs
1971–72 46 26 20 0 — 227 184 40 5th SJHL
1972–73 48 34 14 0 — 243 163 68 2nd SJHL South
1973–74 50 34 14 2 — 233 150 70 1st SJHL
1974–75 58 41 17 0 — 302 202 82 2nd SJHL
1975–76 58 29 28 1 — 300 291 59 3rd SJHL South
1976–77 60 20 40 0 — 237 358 40 5th SJHL South
1977–78 60 32 26 2 — 309 265 66 3rd SJHL South
1978–79 60 14 45 1 — 211 339 29 6th SJHL South
1979–80 60 34 26 0 — 318 273 68 2nd SJHL South Lost 2nd round
1980–81 60 34 24 2 — 326 272 70 2nd SJHL South Did not qualify
1981–82 60 17 40 3 — 246 332 37 5th SJHL South Did not qualify
1982–83 64 23 41 0 — 294 353 46 7th SJHL Lost 1st round
1983–84 64 30 33 1 — 301 341 61 6th SJHL Lost 1st round
1984–85 64 44 18 2 — 382 275 90 2nd SJHL Won League, won Anavet Cup
1985–86 60 47 11 2 — 461 242 96 2nd SJHL
1986–87 64 25 36 3 — 301 340 53 6th SJHL Lost 1st round
1987–88 60 29 29 2 — 289 305 60 5th SJHL
1988–89 64 30 33 1 — 347 357 61 4th SJHL South
1989–90 68 30 30 8 — 239 261 68 3rd SJHL South Lost 1st round
1990–91 68 26 37 5 — 260 330 57 5th SJHL South Did not qualify
1991–92 64 45 16 3 — 328 224 94 1st SJHL Lost final
1992–93 64 32 26 2 — 256 232 70 3rd SJHL South Lost semi-final
1993–94 68 27 32 9 — 245 252 63 4th SJHL South Lost 1st round
1994–95 64 29 29 6 — 259 271 64 4th SJHL South Lost quarter-final
1995–96 64 38 17 9 — 273 202 85 2nd SJHL South Lost semi-final
1996–97 64 19 37 8 — 230 282 46 5th SJHL South Lost quarter-final
1997–98 64 28 29 7 — 220 234 63 3rd SJHL South Lost quarter-final
1998–99 66 44 14 8 — 288 191 96 1st SJHL Won League, won Anavet Cup
1999–00 60 20 32 8 — 190 246 48 5th SJHL South Lost quarter-final
2000–01 62 20 38 3 1 225 299 44 6th SJHL South Did not qualify
2001–02 64 29 25 4 6 243 259 68 3rd SJHL Sherwood Lost quarter-final
2002–03 60 19 32 5 4 212 262 47 5th SJHL Sherwood Did not qualify
2003–04 60 21 23 8 8 188 209 58 5th SJHL Sherwood Did not qualify
2004–05 55 34 14 6 1 195 143 75 1st SJHL Lost semi-final
2005–06 55 13 36 3 3 140 223 32 6th SJHL Sherwood Did not qualify
2006–07 58 31 21 0 6 203 203 68 1st SJHL Sherwood Lost quarter-final
2007–08 58 29 25 — 4 197 184 62 4th SJHL Sherwood Lost Survivor Series
2008–09 56 24 25 — 7 203 185 55 5th SJHL Sherwood Lost Survivor Series
2009–10 58 18 36 — 4 160 209 40 6th SJHL Sherwood Did not qualify
2010–11 58 29 23 — 6 228 229 64 7th SJHL Lost quarter-final
2011–12 58 28 28 — 2 208 211 58 9th SJHL Lost quarter-final
2012–13 54 21 29 4 0 153 199 46 9th SJHL Lost quarter-final
2013–14 56 27 20 3 6 164 173 63 3 of 4 Viterra Div
6th SJHL		 Lost quarter-final
2014–15 56 22 27 — 7 146 203 51 3 of 4 Viterra Div
10th of 12 SJHL		 Lost Wild Card, 2–3 (North Stars)
2015–16 58 35 20 0 3 231 203 73 2 of 4 Viterra Div
5th of 12 SJHL		 Lost quarterfinals, 2–4 (Hawks)
Western Canada Cup as Hosts
2016–17 58 37 18 2 1 225 201 77 1 of 4 Viterra Div
4th of 12 SJHL		 Won quarterfinals, 4–1 (Terriers)
Lost semifinals 0–4 (North Stars)
2017–18 58 34 19 3 2 239 184 73 1 of 4 Viterra Div
4th of 12 SJHL		 Won quarterfinals 4–0 (Klippers)
Won semifinals 4–1 (North Stars)
Lost SJHL Finals 3–4 (Hawks)
2018–19 58 31 22 3 2 210 171 67 1 of 4 Viterra Div
7th of 12 SJHL		 Won quarterfinals 4–3 (Broncos)
Lost semifinals 2-4 (Mustangs)
2019–20 58 31 23 3 1 211 192 66 2 of 4 Viterra Div
6th of 12 SJHL		 Down in Quarterfinals 3–1 (Mustangs)
Playoffs cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21 6 4 1 1 0 26 19 9 SJHL season cancelled March 23, 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021-22 58 43 10 2 3 262 124 91 1 of 4 Viterra Div
1st of 12 SJHL		 Won quarterfinals 4–1 (Hounds)
Won semifinals 4–0 (Terriers)
Won SJHL 4-3 (Bombers)
2022-23 56 28 23 3 2 187 186 61 1 of 4 Viterra Div
6th of 12 SJHL		 Lost quarterfinals 4–3 (Bombers)

Playoffs

Humboldt Broncos defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to none
Estevan Bruins defeated Regina Blues 4 games to 2
Estevan Bruins defeated Weyburn Red Wings 4 games to 1
Humboldt Broncos defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 2
Estevan Bruins defeated Moose Jaw Canucks 4 games to none
Estevan Bruins defeated Weyburn Red Wings 4 games to 1
Prince Albert Raiders defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 1
Weyburn Red Wings defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 3
Melville Millionaires defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 3
Regina Blues defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 1
Estevan Bruins defeated Regina Blues 4 games to none
Moose Jaw Canucks defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 2
Estevan Bruins defeated Yorkton Terriers 4 games to 3
Moose Jaw Canucks defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to none
Yorkton Terriers defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to none
Melville Millionaires defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 1
Estevan Bruins defeated Lloydminster Lancers 4 games to none
Estevan Bruins defeated Battlefords North Stars 4 games to 1
Estevan Bruins defeated Weyburn Red Wings 4 games to 3 SAJHL CHAMPIONS
Estevan Bruins defeated Selkirk Steelers (MJHL) 4 games to 1 ANAVET CUP CHAMPIONS
Penticton Knights (BCJHL) defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to none
Estevan Bruins defeated Melville Millionaires 4 games to none
Estevan Bruins defeated Weyburn Red Wings 4 games to none
Humboldt Broncos defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 3
Lloydminster Lancers defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 1
Humboldt Broncos defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 1
Humboldt Broncos defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to none
Weyburn Red Wings defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 2
Estevan Bruins defeated Yorkton Terriers 4 games to none
Estevan Bruins defeated Melville Millionaires 4 games to 1
Melfort Mustangs defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 1
Estevan Bruins defeated Yorkton Terriers 4 games to 2
Melville Millionaires defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 1
Notre Dame Hounds defeated Estevan Bruins 3 games to 1
Estevan Bruins defeated Melville Millionaires 2 games to none
Lebret Eagles defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 1
Estevan Bruins defeated Lebret Eagles 4 games to 2
Yorkton Terriers defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 3
Estevan Bruins defeated Minot Top Guns 2 games to none
Weyburn Red Wings defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to none
Weyburn Red Wings defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 1
Estevan Bruins defeated Melville Millionaires 4 games to none
Estevan Bruins defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4 games to 1
Estevan Bruins defeated Humboldt Broncos 4 games to none SJHL CHAMPIONS
Estevan Bruins defeated OCN Blizzard (MJHL) 4 games to 2 ANAVET CUP CHAMPIONS
Fifth in 1999 Royal Bank Cup round robin (1-3)
First in round robin (2-2) vs. Weyburn Red Wings and Yorkton Terriers
Melville Millionaires defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 1
Humboldt Broncos defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 1
Third in round robin (1-3) vs. Yorkton Terriers and Notre Dame Hounds
Estevan Bruins defeated Humboldt Broncos 4 games to none
Yorkton Terriers defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 3
Second in round robin (1-2-1) vs. Melville Millionaires and Yorkton Terriers
Yorkton Terriers defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 2
Yorkton Terriers defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 2
Kindersley Klippers defeated Estevan Bruins 3 games to 2
Estevan Bruins defeated Melville Millionaires 3 games to 2
Yorkton Terriers defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to none
Qualifying Round Estevan Bruins defeated Notre Dame Hounds 3 games to 0
Quarter-final Weyburn Red Wings defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to none
Qualifying Round Estevan Bruins defeated Kindersley Klippers 3 games to 1
Quarter-final Yorkton Terriers defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 1
Qualifying Round Estevan Bruins defeated Flin Flon Bombers 3 games to 2
Quarter-final Battlefords North Stars defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 1
Survivor Series Battlefords North Stars defeated Estevan Bruins 3 games to 2
Quarter-final Nipawin Hawks defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 2
Semi-final Estevan Bruins defeated Yorkton Terriers 4 games to 1
Quarter-final Battlefords North Stars defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 0
Quarter-final Estevan Bruins defeated Kindersley Klippers 4 games to 0
Semi-final Estevan Bruins defeated Battlefords North Stars 4 games to 1
Final Nipawin Hawks defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 3
Quarter-final Estevan Bruins defeated Humboldt Broncos 4 games to 3
Quarter-final Melfort Mustangs defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 2
Quarter-final Melfort Mustangs leading Estevan Bruins 3 games to 1
Playoffs cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
Quarter-final Estevan Bruins defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4 games to 1
Semi-final Estevan Bruins defeated Yorkton Terriers 4 games to 0
Final Estevan Bruins defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 3 SJHL CHAMPIONS
Quarter-final Flin Flon Bombers defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 3

Western Canada Cup

Western Canada Championships ** BCHL — AJHL — SJHL — MJHL — Host **
Round-robin play with 1st vs 2nd – winner advance to National Championship and loser to runner-up game
3rd vs 4th in a second semifinal with winner to runner-up game.
Runner-up game determines second representative to National Championship.
Competition began 2013 season.

Year Round-robin Record Standing Semifinal Championship game Runner-up game
2016 L, West Kelowna Warriors 0–3
L, Portage Terriers 2–3
L, Melfort Mustangs 1–2
L, Brooks Bandits 4–6		 0–4–0 5th of 5 did not advance

See also

References

  1. ^ "Bruin History". www.estevanbruins.com. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  2. ^ "WHL Network". Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  3. ^ "Bruins Become the Champions". www.estevanbruins.com. May 8, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2023.

External links

Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
Defunct Western Hockey League teams
Sports teams based in Saskatchewan
Categories