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Bruins drop two games at home

After a season opening win over North Okanagan, it’s been all losses for the struggling Border Bruins.
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The Bruins lost both games this weekend at home to two divisional opponents.

After a season opening win over North Okanagan, it’s been all losses for the struggling Border Bruins. The Bruins lost both games this weekend at home to two divisional opponents.

On Friday against Beaver Valley, it was all Nitehawks as the visitors pounded on the Border Bruins 8-0. The always strong ‘hawks took period leads of 2-0 and 4-0 as they dominated the whole night long led by Braden Fuller’s two goals and one assist.

Anthony Gallart got the loss for Grand Forks, surrendering seven goals on 42 shots in 46:10 of play. Nikki MacLurzynski played for 13:50 and gave up a goal on seven shots. BV outshot the Bruins 49-20.

“Beaver Valley is really good and we played really bad,” said Emery Olauson, Bruins coach and general manager. “It was a combination of nothing going right…they’re a veteran club; they’re well coached; they recruit extremely well. Their top end players will make you pay for mistakes and we made a lot of them.”

The Bears played better Sunday afternoon as they lost a tough one 2-1 to the Nelson Leafs. After trailing 1-0 in the second period, Shayne Pluto tied the score assisted by Phillippe Lam. The Leafs got the winning goal in the third period and held on for the win.

“We had a really flat start,” said Olauson. “Whether it was nerves or a hangover from Friday’s game against Beaver Valley, it was a rough first period. Normally you expect the road team to come out slow in the first but the slow team was us.”

Olauson said the team overall was inconsistent. He is hoping to see stronger efforts particularly from the returning players.

“It seems there are some players happy to not get beat by a lot,” he said. “In reality, a loss is a loss whether you get beat by one or by six. Zero points in the standings hurts either way.”

Olauson did say that although the loss wasn’t good it was an improvement over Friday’s game. “We took a step in the right direction,” he said. “Nelson is a good squad. As young as we are with a mostly rookie line-up I do expect some growing pains but I also expect 100 per cent effort.”

The Bruins will try to get back in the win column with another home game on Saturday this time against the Kelowna Chiefs.

Sunday the team heads to Spokane to face the Braves.