The Innovex Estevan Bears concluded their preseason schedule on Saturday remaining undefeated in exhibition play before the 2026-27 regular season begins.
Taren Anderson scored with just over two minutes remaining in regulation to vault the Bears to a 4-3 win in Brandon against the AAA Wheat Kings. That win followed back-to-back wins over Notre Dame (6-3 on September 13th and 7-4 on September 16th) which were preceded by a 6-2 victory in Estevan over Brandon on September 12th.
SEPT. 13th – 6-3 over Notre Dame
SEPT. 16th – 7-4 over Notre Dame
Plenty of players made an impact on the scoresheet throughout the preseason including:
7 POINTS
Taren Anderson (3G, 4A) – The team’s leading scorer among forwards returning from last season, Anderson led all Bears in scoring, capped off with a multi-goal game in the finale against Brandon.
6 POINTS
Kobe Deck (3G, 3A) – The Bears’ returning blueliner led all defenceman in scoring, highlighted by a hat trick over Notre Dame on Sept. 16th.
5 POINTS
Carter Hryciuk (4G, 1A) – Hryciuk scored a goal in every game, making an immediate impression with his new team after playing last season in Prince Albert
Mason Bryksa (0G, 5A) – Bryksa, one of two 2011-born players on the team along with Landen Andrusiak, led the team in assists and had at least a point in each of the team’s first three games.
4 POINTS (multiple players)
Jack Robinson (3G, 1A) – Robinson tallied a hat trick in the 7-4 win over Notre Dame on Sept. 13th. The returning forward looked like himself after having his season end early last January due to injury, including missing playoffs.
GOALTENDERS
Both Parker Schmidt (2009) and Rylen Daviduk (2010) are new to the crease this season for the Bears, and both looked sharp in preseason play. The two goaltenders split the first two games playing about 30:00 each, then both goalies played a full game with Schmidt starting on Sept. 16th in Notre Dame and Daviduk starting Sept. 19th in Brandon.
Schmidt allowed 7 goals over his 6 periods of play, with a 3.50 G.A.A. and a .889 SV%. Daviduk allowed 5 goals over his 6 periods of play, with a 2.50 G.A.A. and a .904 SV%.
The Bears will now prepare for the regular season, which begins on the road in Saskatoon for two games against the Contacts on September 25th & 26th. The Bears home opener is the following weekend, October 2nd & 3rd against the Swift Current Legionnaires at Affinity Place.
