The Estevan Bruins are a
junior ice hockey
Junior ice hockey is amateur-level ice hockey for 16 to 20 year-old players. National Junior teams compete annually for the IIHF World Junior Championship. The United States men's national junior ice hockey team are the defending champions from ...
team playing in the Junior "A"
Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League is a Junior 'A' ice hockey league operating in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan and one of nine member leagues of the Canadian Junior Hockey League.
Open to North American-born players 20 years o ...
(SJHL). The team is based in
Estevan
Estevan is the eleventh-largest city in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is approximately north of the Canada–United States border. The Souris River runs by the city. This city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Estevan No. 5.
History
The ...
,
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Western Canada. It is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and to the south by the ...
, Canada, and plays at Affinity Place. They were founded in 1971, when a previous franchise called the Estevan Bruins, which played in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League from 1957 to 1966 and then the Major Junior
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitutes the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the highest level of junior hocke ...
(WHL) from 1966 to 1971, relocated to
New Westminster, British Columbia
New Westminster (colloquially known as New West) is a city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada, and a member municipality of the Metro Vancouver Regional District. It was founded by Major-General Richard Moody as the capita ...
; that franchise is today known as the
Kamloops Blazers
The Kamloops Blazers are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team based in Kamloops, British Columbia. The team plays in the B.C. Division of the Western Hockey League's Western Conference and plays its home games at the Sandman Centre. The Blaze ...
.
The original Estevan Bruins (1957–1971)
In 1956,
Scotty Munro
Roderick Neil "Scotty" Munro (1917 – September 20, 1975) was a Canadian ice hockey coach. Munro was a key part of the group that formed the Western Hockey League (WHL) in 1972, which includes Bill Hunter, Ben Hatskin, and Ed Chynoweth.
Ea ...
made a presentation to the leaders of the booming oil town of Estevan. His plan was to move his Humboldt/Melfort Indians (playing in
Humboldt and
Melfort, Saskatchewan), which was a franchise in the original version of the
Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (1948–1966), to Estevan. The concept of Major Junior hockey had not yet been created, so this original SJHL was playing at the top level of junior hockey in Saskatchewan; should the citizens of Estevan finance the building of a new arena, Munro would bring top-notch hockey entertainment and much-needed help for minor hockey in the town.
His pitch was successful and one year later his newly renamed "Bruins" arrived in Estevan to begin the 1957–58 season in the newly built Agricultural Auditorium. At the time, the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League had six teams. The Estevan Bruins, based near the border with the United States, were the southernmost team, located away from the northernmost team, the Flin Flon Bombers, and would make shorter trips to play the Prince Albert Minto's, Regina Pats, Saskatoon Quakers and Melville Millionaires. The league had grown to eight teams by its final season, 1965–66, then disbanded when five of its eight teamsincluding the Estevan Bruinsjoined the newly formed
Canadian Major Junior Hockey League (along with two Alberta-based teams) for the inaugural
1966–67 CMJHL season.
The CMJHL was renamed the Western Canada Junior Hockey League, expanding into Manitoba, for the
1967–68 WCHL season. The Bruins scored their greatest success in that 1967–68 season, finishing second in the regular season before winning the
President's Cup as WCHL playoff champions. They advanced to face British Columbia's
Mowat Cup
The Mowat Cup was donated to the British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association by John Mowat in 1927. Since 2024, it is awarded to the championship team from the British Columbia Hockey Conference (BCHC). The BCHC is made up of the Kootenay Interna ...
champion, the
Penticton Broncos, whom they defeated to take the
Abbott Cup as champion of
Western Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces, Canadian West, or Western provinces of Canada, and commonly known within Canada as the West, is a list of regions of Canada, Canadian region that includes the four western provinces and t ...
. The Bruins then faced Ontario's
Niagara Falls Flyers
The Niagara Falls Flyers were two junior ice hockey franchises that played in the top tier in the Ontario Hockey Association. The first, a Junior "A" team existed from 1960 until 1972, and the second in Tier I Junior "A" from 1976 until 1982.
B ...
, winner of Eastern Canada's
George Richardson Memorial Trophy (having defeated Quebec's
Verdun Maple Leafs), in a best-of-7 series for the
1968 Memorial Cup national championship. The Bruins were defeated, in five games, as the Flyers won their second Memorial Cup.
Starting in 1969, the team played a portion of its schedule in the Bismarck North Dakota Civic Center. The new SJHL franchise continued this in 1971 until the end of the 1972-73 season.
The Bruins played in Estevan through to the completion of the
1970-71 WCHL season, then relocated to
New Westminster
New Westminster (colloquially known as New West) is a city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada, and a member municipality of the Metro Vancouver Regional District. It was founded by Major-General Richard Moody as the cap ...
, British Columbia, where they became the
New Westminster Bruins
The New Westminster Bruins were a Junior ice hockey#Major junior, major junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League. There were two franchises that carried this name:
* 1971–1981 (formerly the Estevan Bruins, now the Kamloops Blazers)
* ...
. This continued until the end of the 1972-73 season.
Season-by-season results
''Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against''
The modern Estevan Bruins
With the departure of the major junior Bruins, a new Bruins team was founded in Estevan that same year, which has played in the SJHL ever since. The Estevan Bruins won the SJHL championship in 1985, 1999 and 2022.
Radio station
CKSE-FM (Rock 106) broadcasts Bruins games. DiscoverEstevan.com covers the team on a daily basis. The team is also covered in print on a weekly basis by the
Estevan Mercury and
Estevan Lifestyles.
Season-by-season results
''Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against''
Playoffs
*1972 ''Lost quarter-final''
:
Humboldt Broncos defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to none''
*1973 ''Lost final''
:Estevan Bruins defeated
Regina Blues ''4 games to 2''
:Estevan Bruins defeated
Weyburn Red Wings ''4 games to 1''
:
Humboldt Broncos defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 2''
*1974 ''Lost final''
:Estevan Bruins defeated
Moose Jaw Canucks ''4 games to none''
:Estevan Bruins defeated
Weyburn Red Wings ''4 games to 1''
:
Prince Albert Raiders defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 1''
*1975 ''Lost quarter-final''
:
Weyburn Red Wings defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 3''
*1976 ''Lost quarter-final''
:
Melville Millionaires
The Melville Millionaires are a Canadian junior "A" ice hockey based in Melville, Saskatchewan. They are members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). They play their home games in the CN Community Centre which has a seating capa ...
defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 3''
*1977 ''DNQ''
*1978 ''Lost quarter-final''
:
Regina Blues defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 1''
*1979 ''DNQ''
*1980 ''Lost semi-final''
:Estevan Bruins defeated
Regina Blues ''4 games to none''
:
Moose Jaw Canucks defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 2''
*1981 ''Lost semi-final''
:Estevan Bruins defeated
Yorkton Terriers ''4 games to 3''
:
Moose Jaw Canucks defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to none''
*1982 ''DNQ''
*1983 ''Lost quarter-final''
:
Yorkton Terriers defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to none''
*1984 ''Lost quarter-final''
:
Melville Millionaires
The Melville Millionaires are a Canadian junior "A" ice hockey based in Melville, Saskatchewan. They are members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). They play their home games in the CN Community Centre which has a seating capa ...
defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 1''
*1985 ''Won League, won
Anavet Cup, lost
Abbott Cup''
:Estevan Bruins defeated
Lloydminster Lancers ''4 games to none''
:Estevan Bruins defeated
Battlefords North Stars ''4 games to 1''
:Estevan Bruins defeated
Weyburn Red Wings ''4 games to 3'' SAJHL CHAMPIONS
:Estevan Bruins defeated
Selkirk Steelers (
MJHL
The Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) is a Junior ice hockey, Junior 'A' ice hockey league operating in the Canadian province of Manitoba and one of nine member leagues of the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL).
The MJHL consists of thirt ...
) ''4 games to 1'' ANAVET CUP CHAMPIONS
:
Penticton Knights (
BCJHL) defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to none''
*1986 ''Lost final''
:Estevan Bruins defeated
Melville Millionaires
The Melville Millionaires are a Canadian junior "A" ice hockey based in Melville, Saskatchewan. They are members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). They play their home games in the CN Community Centre which has a seating capa ...
''4 games to none''
:Estevan Bruins defeated
Weyburn Red Wings ''4 games to none''
:
Humboldt Broncos defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 3''
*1987 ''Lost quarter-final''
:
Lloydminster Lancers defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 1''
*1988 ''Lost quarter-final''
:
Humboldt Broncos defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 1''
*1989 ''Lost quarter-final''
:
Humboldt Broncos defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to none''
*1990 ''Lost quarter-final''
:
Weyburn Red Wings defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 2''
*1991 ''DNQ''
*1992 ''Lost final''
:Estevan Bruins defeated
Yorkton Terriers ''4 games to none''
:Estevan Bruins defeated
Melville Millionaires
The Melville Millionaires are a Canadian junior "A" ice hockey based in Melville, Saskatchewan. They are members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). They play their home games in the CN Community Centre which has a seating capa ...
''4 games to 1''
:
Melfort Mustangs
The Melfort Mustangs are a junior "A" ice hockey team based in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada. They are members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). They play their home games at the Northern Lights Palace, which has a seating cap ...
defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 1''
*1993 ''Lost semi-final''
:Estevan Bruins defeated
Yorkton Terriers ''4 games to 2''
:
Melville Millionaires
The Melville Millionaires are a Canadian junior "A" ice hockey based in Melville, Saskatchewan. They are members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). They play their home games in the CN Community Centre which has a seating capa ...
defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 1''
*1994 ''Lost preliminary''
:
Notre Dame Hounds defeated Estevan Bruins ''3 games to 1''
*1995 ''Lost quarter-final''
:Estevan Bruins defeated
Melville Millionaires
The Melville Millionaires are a Canadian junior "A" ice hockey based in Melville, Saskatchewan. They are members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). They play their home games in the CN Community Centre which has a seating capa ...
''2 games to none''
:
Lebret Eagles defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 1''
*1996 ''Lost semi-final''
:Estevan Bruins defeated
Lebret Eagles ''4 games to 2''
:
Yorkton Terriers defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 3''
*1997 ''Lost quarter-final''
:Estevan Bruins defeated
Minot Top Guns ''2 games to none''
:
Weyburn Red Wings defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to none''
*1998 ''Lost quarter-final''
:
Weyburn Red Wings defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 1''
*1999 ''Won League, won
Anavet Cup, Eliminated from
1999 Royal Bank Cup round robin''
:Estevan Bruins defeated
Melville Millionaires
The Melville Millionaires are a Canadian junior "A" ice hockey based in Melville, Saskatchewan. They are members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). They play their home games in the CN Community Centre which has a seating capa ...
''4 games to none''
:Estevan Bruins defeated
Notre Dame Hounds ''4 games to 1''
:Estevan Bruins defeated
Humboldt Broncos ''4 games to none'' SJHL CHAMPIONS
:Estevan Bruins defeated
OCN Blizzard (
MJHL
The Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) is a Junior ice hockey, Junior 'A' ice hockey league operating in the Canadian province of Manitoba and one of nine member leagues of the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL).
The MJHL consists of thirt ...
) ''4 games to 2'' ANAVET CUP CHAMPIONS
:Fifth in
1999 Royal Bank Cup round robin (1-3)
*2000 ''Lost quarter-final''
:First in round robin (2-2) vs.
Weyburn Red Wings and
Yorkton Terriers
:
Melville Millionaires
The Melville Millionaires are a Canadian junior "A" ice hockey based in Melville, Saskatchewan. They are members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). They play their home games in the CN Community Centre which has a seating capa ...
defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 1''
*2001 ''DNQ''
*2002 ''Lost quarter-final''
:
Humboldt Broncos defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 1''
*2003 ''DNQ''
*2004 ''DNQ''
*2005 ''Lost semi-final''
:Third in round robin (1-3) vs.
Yorkton Terriers and
Notre Dame Hounds
:Estevan Bruins defeated
Humboldt Broncos ''4 games to none''
:
Yorkton Terriers defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 3''
*2006 ''DNQ''
*2007 ''Lost quarter-final''
:Second in round robin (1-2-1) vs.
Melville Millionaires
The Melville Millionaires are a Canadian junior "A" ice hockey based in Melville, Saskatchewan. They are members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). They play their home games in the CN Community Centre which has a seating capa ...
and
Yorkton Terriers
:
Yorkton Terriers defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 2''
*2008 ''Lost preliminary''
:
Yorkton Terriers defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 2''
*2009 ''Lost preliminary''
:
Kindersley Klippers defeated Estevan Bruins ''3 games to 2''
*2010 ''DNQ''
*2011 ''Lost quarter-final''
:Estevan Bruins defeated
Melville Millionaires
The Melville Millionaires are a Canadian junior "A" ice hockey based in Melville, Saskatchewan. They are members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). They play their home games in the CN Community Centre which has a seating capa ...
''3 games to 2''
:
Yorkton Terriers defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to none''
*2012
:''Qualifying Round'' Estevan Bruins defeated
Notre Dame Hounds ''3 games to 0''
:''Quarter-final''
Weyburn Red Wings defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to none''
*2013
:''Qualifying Round'' Estevan Bruins defeated
Kindersley Klippers ''3 games to 1''
:''Quarter-final''
Yorkton Terriers defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 1''
*2014
:''Qualifying Round'' Estevan Bruins defeated
Flin Flon Bombers
The Flin Flon Bombers are a Canadian junior ice hockey team in Flin Flon, a city located on the Manitoba–Saskatchewan provincial border. The Bombers are members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), which is a member of the Canadia ...
''3 games to 2''
:''Quarter-final''
Battlefords North Stars defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 1''
*2015
:''Survivor Series''
Battlefords North Stars defeated Estevan Bruins ''3 games to 2''
*2016
:''Quarter-final''
Nipawin Hawks defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 2''
*2017
:''Semi-final'' Estevan Bruins defeated
Yorkton Terriers ''4 games to 1''
:''Quarter-final''
Battlefords North Stars defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 0''
*2018
:''Quarter-final'' Estevan Bruins defeated
Kindersley Klippers ''4 games to 0''
:''Semi-final'' Estevan Bruins defeated
Battlefords North Stars ''4 games to 1''
:''Final''
Nipawin Hawks defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 3''
*2019
:''Quarter-final'' Estevan Bruins defeated
Humboldt Broncos ''4 games to 3''
:''Quarter-final''
Melfort Mustangs
The Melfort Mustangs are a junior "A" ice hockey team based in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada. They are members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). They play their home games at the Northern Lights Palace, which has a seating cap ...
defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 2''
*2020
:''Quarter-final'' Melfort Mustangs leading Estevan Bruins ''3 games to 1''
: Playoffs cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
*2021 Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
*2022
:''Quarter-final'' Estevan Bruins defeated
Notre Dame Hounds ''4 games to 1''
:''Semi-final'' Estevan Bruins defeated
Yorkton Terriers ''4 games to 0''
:''Final'' Estevan Bruins defeated
Flin Flon Bombers
The Flin Flon Bombers are a Canadian junior ice hockey team in Flin Flon, a city located on the Manitoba–Saskatchewan provincial border. The Bombers are members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), which is a member of the Canadia ...
''4 games to 3'' SJHL CHAMPIONS
*2023
:''Quarter-final''
Flin Flon Bombers
The Flin Flon Bombers are a Canadian junior ice hockey team in Flin Flon, a city located on the Manitoba–Saskatchewan provincial border. The Bombers are members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), which is a member of the Canadia ...
defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 3''
*2024
:''Quarter-final'' Melfort Mustangs defeated Estevan Bruins ''4 games to 1''
*2025 ''DNQ''
:
Western Canada Cup
Western Canada Championships ** ''
BCHL —
AJHL —
SJHL —
MJHL
The Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) is a Junior ice hockey, Junior 'A' ice hockey league operating in the Canadian province of Manitoba and one of nine member leagues of the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL).
The MJHL consists of thirt ...
— Host'' **
Round-robin play with 1st vs 2nd – winner advance to National Championship and loser to runner-up game
3rd vs 4th in a second semifinal with winner to runner-up game.
Runner-up game determines second representative to National Championship.
Competition began 2013 season.
Centennial Cup - ''Revised format 2022''
Canadian Jr. A National Championships''
Maritime Junior Hockey League,
Quebec Junior Hockey League,
Central Canada Hockey League,
Ontario Junior Hockey League
The Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) is a Junior A ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada. It is under the supervision of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) and the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL).
The league dates back to 1954 where i ...
,
Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League,
Superior International Junior Hockey League,
Manitoba Junior Hockey League
The Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) is a Junior ice hockey, Junior 'A' ice hockey league operating in the Canadian province of Manitoba and one of nine member leagues of the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL).
The MJHL consists of thirt ...
,
Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League is a Junior 'A' ice hockey league operating in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan and one of nine member leagues of the Canadian Junior Hockey League.
Open to North American-born players 20 years o ...
,
Alberta Junior Hockey League
The Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) is an Alberta-based Junior A ice hockey league that belongs to the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL). It was formed as a five-team league in 1964. The 2023–24 season began with 16 teams, however 5 ...
, and Host''. The BCHL declared itself an independent league and there is no BC representative.
Round-robin play in two 5-team pools with top three in pool advancing to determine a Champion.
See also
*
List of ice hockey teams in Saskatchewan
References
Further reading
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
External links
Estevan Bruinsofficial website
{{Saskatchewan Sports
1957 establishments in Saskatchewan
Defunct Western Hockey League teams
Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League teams
Sport in Estevan
Ice hockey clubs established in 1957