Estevan beats Flin Flon 2-0 in Game 7 to win first SJHL title in 23 years

The Estevan Bruins turned back the clock to 1999 on Friday when they hoisted the Canalta Cup as SJHL champions.

The Bruins, who finished atop the 2021-22 regular-season standings with 91 points, defeated the Flin Flon Bombers 2-0 on home ice to win Game 7 and capture the league title for the first time in 23 seasons.

The championship is Estevan’s third in the SJHL. In addition to ’99, the Bruins also won it all in 1985.

Estevan won its first-round playoff series 4-1 over the Notre Dame Hounds and followed that up with a four-game sweep in Round 2 over the Yorkton Terriers.

Meanwhile, the Bombers knocked off the La Ronge Ice Wolves in six games in the first round and then took five games to beat the Humboldt Broncos to get to the championship series.

Estevan won the first two games of the series, but the Bombers answered with two straight wins. Estevan won Game 5 at home but the Bombers handled business in Game 6 in Flin Flon to force the deciding game.

The Bruins got goals Friday from Olivier Pouliot and Kian Calder. Bruins goaltender Boston Bilous stopped all 26 shots he faced for the shutout.

Flin Flon was seeking its second SJHL title; the Bombers last hoisted the championship trophy in 1993.