Bruins Drop Two Road Games
By Gerry Foster
Grand Forks Border Bruins had a difficult weekend on the road, losing two games to Division rivals Castlegar and Spokane by the same 9-3 score.
In Castlegar on Saturday the Bruins came back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game with goals by Stephen Shikaze and defenceman Reid Robertson before the first frame ended. These were the first goals of the season for both of them. Matt Lucero notched his seventh of the year to put Grand Forks ahead early in the second but then the floodgates opened as the home town Rebels struck for five goals in the last 12 minutes of the middle frame.
Aaron Petten led Castlegar with a hat trick and he is now tied for the league lead in goals with 14.
Picking up assists for the Bruins were Anderson, Newton, Lane, Doak and McGregor.
Sunday morning the Border Bruins boarded their bus for an afternoon contest in Spokane, the fifth meeting of the season with the Braves. The visitors took an early lead when Max Newton, from Lincoln Lane and Lucas Robinson, banged in his 10th minutes but it was all Spokane after that. Graham Watkins picked up his second goal of the season early in the third and offered a glimmer of hope, bringing his team to within two; however, as was the case the night before in Castlegar, the goals by the opposition were fast and furious.
The third goal for Grand Forks was scored by Michael Rand on a penalty shot. This is turning out to be an astonishing story in the young season. It was Rand’s fourth penalty shot of the year. If this occurred in an entire season it would be news but for it to happen on one team by the same player in only 16 games is a head scratcher for sure.
The Bruins speedy winger missed the first three attempts but this time he was not to be denied, firing a shot into the upper corner just inside the post.
It was a special day for local minor hockey product, Colby Horne. He just turned fifteen three months ago and was making his debut in junior hockey. And the young defenceman got his name on the Stats sheet when he picked up a delay of game penalty in the first period.
The reason Colby was summoned to suit up for the Bruins is the injury bug that has befallen this team.
The Bears have four regular defenceman out of the lineup. Going into the game against Spokane they were left with only two regular D men. They moved a forward to the blue line and added last minute call up, Horne, which still left them shorthanded on the back end.
Next action for the Border Bruins is Friday, October 24th goal of the season. The lead held up for about eleven when they host the Nelson Leafs.
