ESTEVAN — Ewan Rennie has picked up where he left off from last season for the Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins.
The 20-year-old forward from Langley, B.C., was the Bruins’ top scorer last season with 18 goals and 36 assists for 54 points in 56 games. So far this season, he has a goal and three assists for four points in four games, while killing penalties, blocking shots and showcasing his work ethic.
He’s also been asked to be a leader, as he is wearing an “A” as an alternate captain in what is his final season of junior hockey.
Rennie is one of just five players currently on the Bruins’ roster who was part of last year’s team.
“We’re coming together well,” said Rennie. “We have a good group of guys.”
Head coach and general manager Drew Kocur said Rennie does so many things on and off the ice for the club. Rennie leads by example in games and in practice, and Kocur believes Rennie was a deserving choice to be an alternate captain.
“He’s a big part of our group and every night, every practice and every game, he does so many good things for us,” said Kocur. “He’s a real go-getter, he wants the puck and he can make plays happen, but he makes it all happen with hard work.”
After his strong finish to last season, Kocur said Rennie put in a lot of hard work and has some goals for hockey next season.
“He’s like a dog on a bone,” said Kocur. “He wants the puck ... all the time, he really hounds defencemen for the puck. He’s a real Energizer bunny.”
The Bruins dropped both their games on the weekend against their Highway 39 rivals, the Weyburn Red Wings, but showed resilience in both games. Estevan fell 5-4 in overtime in Weyburn on Sept. 26, a game the Red Wings led 4-1 with 10 minutes to play in the third period. Cash Olson scored his first two goals in the SJHL for the Bruins, while Colton Getzlaff and Rylan Williams also scored.
Former Estevan U18 AAA Bears’ forward Roan Burgess had three of Weyburn’s goals and assisted on the winner by Luke Dekay.
Weyburn had a 4-1 lead early in the second period on Sept. 27 in Estevan, but the Bruins fought back to trail 5-4 by the end of the second. The Wings scored the final goal into an empty net late in the third.
Rennie, Logan Goodwin, Colton Getzlaff and Alex Scheck had the Estevan goals. Former Bear Aidan Mohan was among the scorers for Weyburn.
Dylan Adams was in goal for the Bruins in both games. He stopped 42 shots in the first game. He was pulled midway through the second period in the second game after allowing five goals on 27 shots during the second contest, and replaced by Bears’ alum Brady Carr, who made 20 saves.
Rennie said the club has to be better at the start of the game and deliver a good 60-minute effort. But he’s pleased to see the resiliency they have shown, especially against their rivals.
“It was good to get a taste of it and so we know what’s coming the rest of the season,” said Rennie.
The Bruins will host the Yorkton Terriers Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. Then they will embark on their first northern road trip of the season, visiting the Nipawin Hawks Oct. 3 and the La Ronge Ice Wolves Oct. 4 and 5.
