Tough weekend for the Bruins
By Gerry Foster
The Grand Forks Border Bruins salvaged their only point in a challenging weekend of three games in less than 48 hours, by skating to a 5-5 double overtime tie with the Revelstoke Grizzlies. This was the third extra time game in the past five for the locals.
Grand Forks had two goal leads on three occasions in this one but the visitors would not go away. The turning point in the game was a 2:07 span just past the midway point of the second period when the Grizzlies scored three quick goals to take a 5-4 lead. It looked like they would hold on for the win but Max Newton notched the equalizer with less than two minutes remaining to send the contest into extra time. It was Newton’s second goal of the game.
Ten minutes of wild overtime action decided nothing but the fans were entertained as both teams had several scoring chances, perhaps none better than a penalty shot by Michael Rand. This was the speedy winger’s third penalty shot of the season, and, as on the other two occasions, he failed to score.
Kyle Doak from the The Pas, Manitoba led the Bruins with two goals and an assist. Steele Anderson was their other scorer.
The night before Grand Forks was in a tight battle with the Creston Valley Thunder Cats. The teams exchanged goals late in the opening period and it stayed that way until Logan Wullum put one by Bruins goalie Jacob Mullen. Mullen was outstanding in this one as they were outshot 54-25. The Cats scored an empty netter with 5 seconds left. The lone goal for the home team was scored by Bryson Yee, his first of the season.
The tripleheader weekend began in Fernie Friday evening but the visiting Bruins were outplayed by the Ghostriders who have only one loss this season. The final score was 6-1 with Newton scoring the lone goal for the team from the Boundary.
Newton currently sits in second place in the KIJHL scoring race with 9 goals and 11 assists. The Vancouver native is in his second season with Grand Forks. Last year as a rookie he notched 19 goals. The Bruins have now played 14 games in this young season which is more than any other team in the KIJHL. Seven squads in the 20 team league have played ten or fewer games.
The Bruins have been hit hard recently with injuries and the flu bug. In these last three games they have been unable to field a full roster of players. This includes playing without their other regular goalie, Kiernan Matsuba.
The two home games on this Thanksgiving weekend were both well attended. Next action for the Bruins is on the road this weekend when they visit Castlegar and Spokane. They return home to face the current Neil Murdoch division leaders, Nelson Leafs, on Friday, October 24th at 7:00.
