The Estevan Bruins are a junior ice hockey team playing in the Junior "A" Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). The team is based in Estevan, Saskatchewan, 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 (WHL) from 1966 to 1971, relocated to New Westminster, British Columbia; that franchise is today known as the Kamloops Blazers.
The original Estevan Bruins (1957–1971) In 1956, Scotty Munro 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 champion, the Penticton Broncos, whom they defeated to take the Abbott Cup as champion of Western Canada. The Bruins then faced Ontario's Niagara Falls Flyers, 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 Civic Center in Bismarck, North Dakota.Oct. 17, 1969 Bismarck Tribune. https://www.newspapers.com/image/413549791/?match=1&terms=%22estevan%20bruins%22 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, British Columbia, where they became the New Westminster Bruins. This continued until the end of the 1972-73 season. The franchise again relocated in 1981 after being purchased by then-owner of the Edmonton Oilers, Peter Pocklington, who renamed them the Kamloops Junior Oilers.
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
Season GP W L T OTL GF GA Points Finish Playoffs 1966–67 56 33 18 5 — 273 197 71 2nd WCHL Lost semi-final 1967–68 60 45 13 2 —262 169 90 2nd WCHL Won Championship 1968–69 60 40 28 0 — 294 195 80 2nd WCHL East Lost semi-final 1969–70 60 28 31 1 — 237 255 57 2nd WCHL East Lost quarter-final 1970–71 66 41 20 5 — 283 201 87 1st WCHL East Lost quarter-final
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 have 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
Season GP W L T OTL GF GA Points Finish Playoffs1971–72 46 26 20 0 —227 184 40 5th SJHL 1972–73 48 34 14 0 —243 163 68 2nd SJHL South1973–74 50 34 14 2 —233 150 70 1st SJHL1974–75 58 41 17 0 —302 202 82 2nd SJHL1975–76 58 29 28 1 —300 291 59 3rd SJHL South1976–77 60 20 40 0 —237 358 40 5th SJHL South1977–78 60 32 26 2 —309 265 66 3rd SJHL South1978–79 60 14 45 1 —211 339 29 6th SJHL South1979–80 60 34 26 0 —318 273 68 2nd SJHL South Lost 2nd round1980–81 60 34 24 2 —326 272 70 2nd SJHL South Did not qualify1981–82 60 17 40 3 —246 332 37 5th SJHL South Did not qualify1982–83 64 23 41 0 —294 353 46 7th SJHL Lost 1st round1983–84 64 30 33 1 —301 341 61 6th SJHL Lost 1st round1984–85 64 44 18 2 —382 275 90 2nd SJHL Won League, won Anavet Cup1985–86 60 47 11 2 —461 242 96 2nd SJHL1986–87 64 25 36 3 —301 340 53 6th SJHL Lost 1st round1987–88 60 29 29 2 —289 305 60 5th SJHL1988–89 64 30 33 1 —347 357 61 4th SJHL South1989–90 68 30 30 8 —239 261 68 3rd SJHL South Lost 1st round1990–91 68 26 37 5 —260 330 57 5th SJHL South Did not qualify1991–92 64 45 16 3 —328 224 94 1st SJHL Lost final1992–93 64 32 26 2 —256 232 70 3rd SJHL South Lost semi-final1993–94 68 27 32 9 —245 252 63 4th SJHL South Lost 1st round1994–95 64 29 29 6 —259 271 64 4th SJHL South Lost quarter-final1995–96 64 38 17 9 —273 202 85 2nd SJHL South Lost semi-final1996–97 64 19 37 8 —230 282 46 5th SJHL South Lost quarter-final1997–98 64 28 29 7 —220 234 63 3rd SJHL South Lost quarter-final1998–99 66 44 14 8 —288 191 96 1st SJHL Won League, won Anavet Cup1999–00 60 20 32 8 —190 246 48 5th SJHL South Lost quarter-final2000–01 62 20 38 3 1 225 299 44 6th SJHL South Did not qualify2001–02 64 29 25 4 6 243 259 68 3rd SJHL Sherwood Lost quarter-final2002–03 60 19 32 5 4 212 262 47 5th SJHL Sherwood Did not qualify2003–04 60 21 23 8 8 188 209 58 5th SJHL Sherwood Did not qualify2004–05 55 34 14 6 1 195 143 75 1st SJHL Lost semi-final2005–06 55 13 36 3 3 140 223 32 6th SJHL Sherwood Did not qualify2006–07 58 31 21 0 6 203 203 68 1st SJHL Sherwood Lost quarter-final2007–08 58 29 25 —4 197 184 62 4th SJHL Sherwood Lost Survivor Series2008–09 56 24 25 —7 203 185 55 5th SJHL SherwoodLost Survivor Series2009–10 58 18 36 —4 160 209 40 6th SJHL Sherwood Did not qualify2010–11 58 29 23 —6 228 229 64 7th SJHL Lost quarter-final2011–12 58 28 28 —2 208 211 58 9th SJHL Lost quarter-final2012–13 54 21 29 4 0 153 199 46 9th SJHL Lost quarter-final2013–14 56 27 20 3 6 164 173 63 3 of 4 Viterra Div 6th SJHL Lost quarter-final2014–15 56 22 27 —7 146 203 51 3 of 4 Viterra Div10th of 12 SJHL Lost Wild Card, 2–3 (North Stars)2015–16 58 35 20 0 3 231 203 73 2 of 4 Viterra Div5th of 12 SJHL Lost quarterfinals, 2–4 (Hawks)Western Canada Cup as Hosts2016–17 58 37 18 2 1 225 201 77 1 of 4 Viterra Div4th of 12 SJHL Won quarterfinals, 4–1 (Terriers)Lost semifinals 0–4 (North Stars) 2017–18 58 34 19 3 2 239 184 73 1 of 4 Viterra Div4th of 12 SJHL Won quarterfinals 4–0 (Klippers)Won semifinals 4–1 (North Stars)Lost SJHL Finals 3–4 (Hawks) 2018–19 58 31 22 3 2 210 171 67 1 of 4 Viterra Div7th of 12 SJHL Won quarterfinals 4–3 (Broncos)Lost semifinals 2-4 (Mustangs) 2019–20 58 31 23 3 1 211 192 66 2 of 4 Viterra Div6th of 12 SJHL Down in Quarterfinals 3–1 (Mustangs)Playoffs cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2020–21 6 4 1 1 0 26 19 9 SJHL season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic 2021-22 58 43 10 2 3 262 124 91 1 of 4 Viterra Div1st of 12 SJHL Won quarterfinals 4–1 (Hounds)Won semifinals 4–0 (Terriers)Won SJHL 4-3 (Bombers) 2022-23 56 28 23 3 2 187 186 61 1 of 4 Viterra Div6th of 12 SJHL Lost quarterfinals 4–3 (Bombers) 2023-24 56 26 26 2 2 190 212 56 3rd of 4 Viterra Div7th of 12 SJHL Lost quarterfinals 1-4 (Mustangs) 2024-25 56 18 31 5 2 168 229 43 4th of 4 Viterra Div10th of 12 SJHL Did not qualify 2025–26 56 26 25 4 1 191 188 57 4th of 4 Bunge Div8th of 12 SJHL lost quarterfinals 0-4 (Bombers)
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 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 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) 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 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 4 games to 1 Melfort Mustangs defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 1 1993 Lost semi-final Estevan Bruins defeated Yorkton Terriers 4 games to 2 Melville Millionaires 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 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 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) 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 defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 1 2001 DNQ 2002 Lost quarter-final