If there's one team proving to be a major thorn in Weyburn's side this year, it's Estevan.

The league-leading Bruins stopped the Wings from breaking their undefeated streak on Friday night, as they hosted Weyburn for a 4-3 overtime victory on their home ice.

Weyburn had a brief 2-0 lead in the first period, thanks to a pair of power play goals scored by Daryl Fransoo and Joe Pace. Assists went to Cody Wasik, Matt Wheeler, Justin Schmidt and Aaron Sennecker.

Estevan then squeaked out a shorthanded goal in the final minute of the first period. They added two more in the second period to give themselves a 3-2 lead.

Trailing the Bruins by one goal, Ryan Grona steered the Red Wings away from a loss with a goal at 16:30. Rick Wood was credited with an assist.

At 4:57 in overtime, Chris Stubel scored a goal for the Bruins, preventing a win or at least a tie for Weyburn.

Brenden Cuthbert put in a stellar performance in net, blocking 48 shots on goal from the Bruins. Weyburn fired only 21 shots at Juliano Pagliero.

The Bruins are proving to be the strongest contenders for the SJHL crown in the 2004-2005 season, easily taking the lead in the Sherwood Conference.

In six games with Estevan this year, Weyburn has scored only three points in two overtime losses and one tie game.

Though the Red Wings struggled on Friday against Estevan, they had little trouble bringing home a 4-2 victory over Notre Dame on Dec. 14.

Pace also had Weyburn's first goal of the night against Notre Dame, assisted by Kuntz and Wood.

Chris Hahn tied it for Notre Dame before the end of the first period, and Tyson Hoover added another goal in the second.

The Red Wings took it in the third, however, as Kenny King, Kuntz and Grona scored three unanswered goals within the final five minutes to make it 4-2.

Kent Lillejord, Wood, Grona and Kuntz were credited with assists this period.

Russ Monette was in net for Weyburn against Notre Dame, blocking 28 shots on goal. Weyburn fired 41 shots against the Hounds' goalie, Chance Gieni.

This week marked the final games of 2004 for the Weyburn Red Wings, who are now in fifth place for the Sherwood Conference with a three-point lead over Melville. Fifth place is good enough to secure a spot in the post-season under the SJHL's new playoff format.

The Wings have two more chances to score their first win over Estevan at the start of 2005, when they play a home-and-away series against the Bruins on Jan. 1-2.

The Wings host Estevan at the Colosseum on New Year's Day at 3 p.m., then hit the road for a game on Sunday, Jan. 2 at 5 p.m.

Wings at All-Star Game

Several Red Wings popped up in the standings during the All-Star Weekend in North Battleford on Saturday and Sunday.

In the SJHL All-Star Game on Sunday evening, Kenny King, who played as a centre for the Sherwood Conference All-Stars, assisted on a goal at 17:35 of the first period.

The Sherwood team went on to lose 10-9 to the ITECH Conference All-Stars.

In the Prospects game, Red Wing rookie Marc Schweitzer scored the final goal of the third period at 12:55, assisted by Trenton Moore and Daniel Moriarty.

Schweitzer also assisted on the Sherwood team's fifth goal, scored at 8:31 of the second period by Justin Menke.

Russ Monette also played a shift in net for the Sherwood Prospects, blocking all 18 shots on goal.

The Sherwood Prospects defeated the ITECH Prospects 7-1.

Also playing for the Sherwood Conference All-Stars was Ryan Kuntz, slotted to defence. Kent Lillejord was on the Prospects team as a winger.