Bruins newest players add much needed scoring depth
By Michael Wirischagin
The Grand Forks Border Bruins may have found the answer to their anemic offensive this past week adding brothers Yan and Artsiom Kalashnikov of Belarus to the roster. With both paying dividends in only their second game in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL), they became the only high spot in what was otherwise a disastrous two week stretch for the Border Bruins. October started off for the Bruins the way September finished off. Terribly. After being shut out by the Castlegar Rebels 7-0, to end the month the Bears had the unenviable task of facing off against the reigning KIJHL champions Fernie Ghostriders, on Oct. 1, as they looked to put points on the board, and, more specifically, pucks in the net. And while the Bruins were unable to put points on the boards, they were able to end their scoreless drought at five periods, tallying a goal with 2:20 to play in the third period scored by Zachary Thompson. Fernie ultimatley took the game, 7-1. A moral victory none-the-less for the Bruins, in a losing effort. This past Friday had the Bruins welcoming the Golden Rockets to town in what became the Kalashnikov’s coming out party as the brothers showed signs of what they are capable of once acclimated to the KIJHL style of hockey. It was just a taste of the difference both brothers could end up being for the Bruins as they both tallied points on the Bruins only two goals of the game. Artsiom,16, finished with one-assist, while Yan, 18, finished with two-helpers, in a 6-2 loss to the Rockets. Thompson and Joey Cormano recorded the Bruins two goals. The Spokane Braves were next in line to take on the Bears, as Grand Forks travelled down south to take on their division rivals, this past Sunday in an afternoon showdown. While once again the Border Bruins did not win, they did keep their goals-against down, only giving up four, in the 4-1 defeat. Bruins netminder Garrett Muir stopped 48 of 52 shots faced and Kevin Wong registered the lone Bruins goal. Beyond this past weekends action, the Bruins play on Friday, Oct.15, against the Osoyoos Coyotes, and then again on Saturday, Oct. 16, against the Castlegar Rebels to wrap up their weekend play. Both games are home games for the Bears and are 7:30 p.m. starts.
The Border Bruins record now stands at 1-win, 11-losses, through 12 games.
