"It is a year where anyone can beat anyone," said Broncos' head coach Dean Brockman Wednesday, February 20. "The team who gets hot in the playoffs will win the league."
Brockman and his Broncos clinched the top spot in the north division of the SJHL the previous week with their win against the Estevan Bruins. First place overall in the league is still up for grabs as the Broncos and their Sherwood Division rivals, the Yorkton Terriers each had 74 points as of Thursday, February 21, but Humboldt had a game in hand.
The Broncos receive a first round playoff bye and will await the outcomes of the Northern survivor series between the Melfort Mustangs and the Battlefords North Stars. Humboldt would then play the winner of that series.
"The advantage of finishing in the top three in the division is that you get a rest while team four plays team five," Brockman said.
While top spot in the league is not yet decided, Brockman indicated it would be nice to finish in first place overall, but is glad they captured first in the north division because it's been a tight race all the way through the season.
"It is important to start at home," said Brockman. "Being in your own bed, in your own surroundings and following your own routine is key to getting a good start in the playoffs."
With outcomes still to be determined, Brockman is not underestimating either of the teams Humboldt could face in their opening round.
"The Battlefords have beaten us twice at home," he said. "In fact they have shut us out both times at home. They work extremely hard and they will want redemption because we took them out of the playoffs last year."
Even though Humboldt has dominated in regular season play against the Melfort Mustangs, Brockman is not counting them out
"We may have beaten Melfort all season," said Brockman. "But it could end up being a numbers game. We've won six times, can we go for 10? Melfort is also on a bit of a roll right now."
When asked which elements of the Broncos' play needed work, Brockman's response was "Which element doesn't need work?"
That's a response very much in stride with Brockman's whole-picture approach to the team and the game.
"Every element needs to be looked after," he said. "We have to make sure the work ethic stays strong and we do things right on a consistent basis."
Brockman noted consistency has been a bit of a problem for his team this year.
That may be attributed to the larger than normal number of long-term injuries the Broncos have experienced this season.
"I've been here 16 years and this is the most I have seen," he said.
Lines have been shuffled not only because of injuries, but also to help spark players who have sometimes struggled at different points of the season.
The first round bye will allow those banged up players an opportunity to heal and rest. Conditioning will also be a priority as some has been lost due to scheduling -- they've played up to three games in four nights in recent weeks.
"Sometimes there just isn't enough time to work on conditioning and we need to make sure the guys are ready for the playoff run," he said.
While the coaching staff will look to hone the Broncos' overall game play, Brockman indicated striking a fine balance amongst the elements is necessary because overworking any one area can create an imbalance thus not producing the desired results when the puck drops.
"In the playoffs, everything is so much more crucial," he said. "Little things like a missed check or a missed assignment is amplified. There is a sense of desperation in the playoffs. Every game could be your last."
Brockman noted the older players have been ready for the playoffs for a while now, but the younger players are a bit more hesitant and nervous because they are not sure what to expect.
"Each time we step out onto the ice, we give ourselves the chance to win," said Brockman. "We will take this game and try to capitalize on our opportunities."
While not making predictions regarding the team's playoff run, Brockman hopes people will come out and support the team during their quest for the league championship.
