User:RASteiger

Scotty Munro
=== Roderick "Scotty" Munro arrived in Estevan in the summer of 1956 to lay the groundwork for his new venture in what he hoped would become a hockey hot-bed in this booming oil town. Scotty stated, "The Humboldt/Melfort area can no longer support the team, it is no longer a viable situation". Scotty was a hockey man, for sure, but he also knew a bit about the business side and a lot about the art of persuasion. Mr. Monro made his pitch to the city council and citizens of Estevan. “We will bring money into the community.” Munro said, “We will bring top notch hockey entertainment, and much needed help for minor hockey here.” He added, “The league that we play in (SJHL), is the best junior hockey in the world.” He stated that only “a good hockey team” can make the $250,000 arena pay. Munro explained that a team such as his, and playing in the best league in the Province, would help pay for a new arena building in 10 years. ===

The People Bought In
=== Bingo's (Rinko’s) and raffles were held and profits went to complete the quarter million dollar auditorium expected to be completed by the end of August, 1957, ready for Scotty Munro’s Junior Hockey team to move in and commence training. === === Estevan’s new entry into the SJHL will be western Canada’s most southerly team. The Flin Flon Bombers, being Canada’s most northerly junior hockey team, will have to travel 600 miles to play Estevan, The other teams in the SJHL will include the Regina Pats, Flin Flon Bombers*, Prince Albert Minto's, the Saskatoon Quakers and the Melville Millionaire's.   The new unnamed club will play 25 home games and will recruit and relocate many of the former Humbolt/Melfort Indian's team players. === === The Estevan Mercury ran a contest to name the new club and “The Estevan Bruins” was selected after considering 0ilfield related names such as The Estevan Gushers, Oilers, Boomers, Wildcats and one non oil related name "The Estevan Soo Liners". Since the Boston Bruins would be a major sponsor of the local team (even supplying uniforms) the name would certainly meet with their approval. William “Moe” George, was appointed the Estevan Bruins first business manager and local boy, Ernie McLean was recruited to assist Scotty in the coaching of the team. ===

The First Games
=== On Thursday October 17th, 1957, 1,321 fans witnessed the Estevan Bruins first hockey game, where they defeated the Winnipeg Rangers, 8-4 in an Exhibition game. There were many firsts to this game: First Junior age game played in Estevan on artificial ice in new rink (Agricultural Auditorium), and first hockey game played in the month of October in S.E. Saskatchewan. === === Five days later, on Tuesday October 22, the first SJHL game was played in the Agricultural Auditorium. The Bruins edged the Regina Pats 5-4 in overtime before 1,800 fans. That night, the local Bruin Boosters witness future NHL stars in Bill Hicke, Terry Harper and Red Berenson, playing for the Regina Pats while Dick Meisner was the game winning hero for the hometown Bruins. ===