Photo: Wanda Harron Photography
BY Jonathan Huntington (Originally posted on SMAAAHL website)
SASKATOON – The Estevan Innovex Bears started the year with three wins in 12 games. The dressing room didn’t crumble. The sky didn’t fall. The ship didn’t sink.
“You got to give the guys credit,” said Estevan head coach Ryan Pilon. “They stayed mature and there was a light at the end of the tunnel.”
The Bears have now won seven of their last eight games and have at least a point in each of those eight games. “That’s hard to do in our league,” quipped Pilon. “Our goalie (Evan) Hutcheon has been outstanding.” Hutcheon is second in the league in minutes-played and has a .905 save percentage.
Estevan is now 10-9-0-1 with seven games left before Christmas. “We want to cement ourselves (as a contender) and show this streak isn’t a fluke,” added Pilon.
HOT, HOT, HOT: The Regina Pat Canadians have not lost in regulation time in 14 consecutive games… Moose Jaw is 9-1 in their last 10 games… Battlefords has won seven of their last 10… And Swift Current has at least a point in seven of their last 10.
World Junior Speculation: Former Saskatoon Contacts star Berkly Catton could be playing for Team Canada at the upcoming World Junior tournament. There is only speculation at this point, but Catton has played 16 games with Seattle in the NHL, registering four assists and a plus-1 rating… Cole Reschny’s name is also being mentioned in some circles as a possible Team Canada forward. The former Saskatoon Blazerhas 11 points in 12 games for the University of North Dakota in the NCAA this season.
FINISH LINES: Regina, Moose Jaw and the Warman Wildcats are going to the Circle K Tournament in Calgary this holiday season… There are wild finishes to regular season games every year, but Estevan and the Saskatoon Contacts etched a wild final four minutes on Sunday. The teams combined for FIVE goals in the final 3:39 of the third period. The Contacts erased a 5-2 deficit in the final 1:38 of the third frame to force OT. The Contacts won in the SIXTH round of the shoot-out.
