It is a weekend that a lot of hockey fans have had circled on their calenders for a long time, as the Estevan Bruins will make their long awaited return to the Whitney Forum.

 

This will be the Bruins first visit to Northern Manitoba since  last spring's legendary league final.

 

The two teams did meet in Estevan earlier this year in October and the Bruins won 8 to 6.

 

Alex Von Sprecken had just been traded to the Bombers and actually scored against his former team that night. Von Sprecken is really looking forward to the the two games this weekend,  and will have lots of family and friends making the trip up North.

 

Besides all the emotions that will be flying high for both teams this weekend, these two games will have a huge barring on the league standings.

 

Entering play tonight, Flin Flon leads the Bruins by just 2 points for fourth overall, but the Bombers do have 5 games in hand.

 

Both teams have been a little inconsistant of late as the Bombers are 4-4 in January and are coming off a 5 to 4 loss in Melfort on Tuesday. The Bruins are struggling on the road and are below .500 at 9-11-1.

 

The Bruins roll into town with back to back losses in Laronge but were the first team to beat Battleford in regulation this year shutting them out 5 to 0 back on January the 14th.

 

Both these clubs have lost significant players from their big runs last year but have both been able to be in the mix as two of the top clubs once again this year.

 

Estevan in particular has been a big surprise with only 6 players left from last year's championship team. Kade Runke has been on fire and leads their team in scoring with 45 points.

 

Cam Hrdlicka has been great between the pipes and has 18 wins this year to go along with a  gaa of 2.83 and save % of .914.

 

Cole Duperreault is back to his old ways and has been all over the score sheet his past two games with 7 points. Duperreault had two goals in the Bomber loss in Melfort on Tuesday.

 

No matter what go's down it should be an electric atmosphere this weekend as we get to rekindle the rivalry from this past spring.

 

You can catch tomorrow night's game on 102.9 CFAR and flinflononline.com with the Great North GM Coach's Show at 7:10.