SJHL’s Estevan Bruins fire head coach

Estevan Bruins head coach and general manager Jason Tatarnic makes a recruitment call ahead of his team’s Centennial Cup host season. (Cole Davenport/CTV Regina)

The Estevan Bruins have fired head coach and general manager Jason Tatarnic.

“The organization would like to thank Jason for his time leading the Bruins and the memories from the 2022 championship run,” the team said in a media release Sunday.

Tararnic was hired by the Bruins prior the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season in May of that year.

Spending just under five full seasons with the team, he led the Bruins to a Canalta Cup Championship in 2022 but lost in the quarterfinals of the Centennial Cup Junior ‘A’ national championship. A tournament Estevan hosted that season.

Prior to joining the Bruins as a Head Coach and General Manager, Tatarnic was considered, “one of the top coaches in the country,” according to his profile on the team’s website.

He was behind the 2017-18 national championship Chilliwack Chiefs team. Tatarnic also has experience on the international stage as the Head Coach of Team Atlantic at the World U-17 Championships.

Tatarnic finishes his tenure in Estevan with a 113-78-19 record.

The organization said they would not comment on the matter further.

“Interim plans will be announced in the coming days,” the release went on to say.

As of Monday morning, the Bruins are last place in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s (SJHL) Viterra division with a 12-18-4 record.

Estevan next takes the ice Wednesday when the host the Flin Flon Bombers.