Focus on the positive.That's what they tried to do at the Humboldt Broncos' annual awards night held May 19.Though the season did not end the way many had hoped, by winning an RBC Cup championship on home ice, the team accomplished a lot in their very long season of hockey. And those accomplishments were listed by nearly every speaker.About 150 people attended the banquet this year. "In this room, these are the people that get it," said master of ceremonies Lambert Stumborg, a longtime Bronco volunteer and billet parent. "We get this team we call the Humboldt Broncos."The Broncos recorded 62 wins in their past season, reported assistant coach Murray Brookbank when introducing all the players on the team. They won the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) championship, the ANAVET Cup over the Manitoba Junior Hockey League Champions, and played in the RBC Cup."Fellas, you can give yourselves a big pat on the back," Brookbank said. Their players this year, especially the 20-year-olds, had to deal with the fact that the Broncos were a four-line, six -defencemen hockey club, Brookbank noted. And they did so, swapping individual glory for team success. Brookbank also had some words to say about head coach Dean Brockman.In the past 10 years, Brockman has won five SJHL championships, four ANAVET Cups, has been an RBC Cup runner-up, and has won two RBC Cup championships. "I'm telling you, thousands of coaches, and thousands of hockey players go through their lifetimes and never get close to one of these things.""It didn't quite start out the way we wanted," said assistant coach Tim Klimosko of the season in his address. "We were very mediocre at best. But we didn't panic... we knew the guys we had... we knew we were going to be in the RBC Cup.... and we wanted to go in the front door."The players worked harder at the rink, and became closer, and everyone bought into the coaching staff's team concept.And things started to work. They finished in first place in the league at the end of the regular season. They took care of LaRonge, North Battleford and Weyburn on their way to win the SJHL's Canalta Cup. They dug in and won the ANAVET Cup over the Portage Terriers in seven games."We prolonged that one a little bit," Klimosko smiled."That was exactly how we wanted to get to the RBC Cup.... Job well done, men."In the round-robin of the RBC Cup, they got to play just about everyone, including their four "Black Aces" - the rookies who waited patiently to get into the lineup, and who took stats, cleaned buses, and operated the camera when they weren't."Gentlemen, not for one minute did that go unnoticed," Klimosko told them. "To the 20-year-olds, thanks for the memories. It was tough losing in overtime in the semifinal, and not getting to the final game," Klimosko said. "We fell a little short, but we still should be very proud of ourselves."Klimosko had words for each one of the graduating players - Robbie Ciolfi, Emrik Guillemette, Taylor Johnson, Ryan Marshall, Taylor Duzan, Andrew Johnston, Andrew Herle, Jonathan Parisien, Mathew Backhouse and Chase Wharton.Then he announced that he is stepping down as assistant coach. "I've coached for a long time in Humboldt. After 20-plus years, I'm resigning as assistant coach of the Humboldt Broncos," he said. "I'm going to miss you all."Taylor Johnson, captain of the Broncos this season, started giving the captain's message by thanking the team's medical staff and physiotherapists. When it looked like a delay getting medical treatment would keep Johnson off the team last summer, "Dr. Hamman got me what I needed. Without him, I wouldn't have been playing this season."He then thanked Elgar Petersen, the team's longtime trainer and Humboldt's symbol of hockey, who was present at the banquet."One of the most special moments of my life was taking the ANAVET to Elgar," he said, which he did directly after receiving the cup when they won it on home ice. Brookbank, Johnson called "the most inspiring coach I've ever had. You got me fired up for every game."Klimosko he called "a good comedian, but a better coach," and Brockman, he said "is hands-down, the best coach I've ever had. You taught me a lot about hockey... you became my friend... I will miss seeing you every day. I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me."To his team, he said "I know the season had a lot of ups and downs, good moments and bad moments... last weekend was a really, really bad moment."But they have to move past that moment, he said, in order to catch the next great one. "We have to celebrate our season, reflect on our achievements... We were the only team Penticton played that they didn't beat.... (and) we were the biggest beauties in the league."It was a huge honour, he concluded, to be the captain of this team because of the character of the players. "The 2011-12 Humboldt Broncos season was played out like a number of Hollywood scripts," said head coach Dean Brockman in his address. As he described the season, from last summer when he would "Meet the Parents" of players, to lining up "Super Troopers" to come in, in hopes of a "Miracle on Ice," Brockman threw in a wealth of movie and television titles. There was a "Fear Factor" as the season got underway, as the players hoped they would be a "Survivor," he said. "A lot of hockey people thought it would be 'Mission Impossible' to go in the front door to the RBC Cup," he noted, but they did it, with smart trades and new systems."We rose up to be the 'Top Gun' in the SJHL," he said, and in the ANAVET, it was a "Clash of the Titans."They were "Lethal Weapons" in the round-robin of the RBC Cup, he said, but the season came to an abrupt end."As I went into the 'Hurt Locker' and faced my team, I could only think of one word to describe them - 'Heroes'."I know, men, it wasn't supposed to end the way it did. I hope you learned a lesson. We defined what Team means. Allow your pain to drive you to be better people, people who can teach the world right from wrong.... You embraced this challenge with class and dignity, and I was very fortunate to be a part of it. I really enjoyed watching you grow and become men. We did well."He thanked both Brookbank and trainer Brett McCorkell for their hard work and dedication, for their wisdom and friendship. To Klimosko, he said, "you taught the players how to win. You taught me how to win. You made the past seven years of my life some of the best."It's hard to believe, he concluded, that we're putting an end to this season's battle. "I can tell you one thing - I'm very proud to stand up here... and find so many friends, and people who understand everything we went through the last two weeks."SJHL president Bill Chow, who just completed his first hockey season as president, actually attended the awards banquet in Humboldt this year - an unusual move for a president of the SJHL.He urged everyone to "sit back and reflect on the positive things of the year.... I don't think we can take anything away from your Humboldt Broncos and what they accomplished," Chow said. "One thing I've really embraced about the SJHL, and not just in Humboldt, is the passion and emotion that everybody is engaged with their team. It really is their team in their town."To the players, he said, "You're going to have things happen to you in life and you don't know why."But, he added, as a former police officer, he has learned that "if it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger. Take the positives from the year... learn from them and you'll be a stronger person for it."When the players look back on this year of junior hockey, he noted, they will likely remember it as one of their best. "You young men with the help of your coaches were able to accomplish a year you'll never forget."Chow thanked the billet families, volunteers, the board of directors and the coaching staff for all they do for the Broncos, and that they did this past year to make it what it was. At the end of his address, Chow presented the SJHL Goalie with the least Goals Against Average award to Bronco Matt Hrynkiw - an award he wasn't able to present during the playoff season. Broncos president Bob Johnston echoed Chow's words of thanks in his address. "To all the billets, volunteers, corporate sponsors, staff, executive, fans ... thank you for everything you do for this hockey club," he said, adding special thanks to those involved with the RBC Cup tournament Humboldt hosted two weeks ago.Putting on that event took nearly 400 volunteers. "It was just amazing. Everyone had a good time. The response has been fantastic," he said. Johnston was one of those who had words for Elgar Petersen. "It was great to see you hold the ANAVET Cup in your own rink," Johnston said. The past season was really an incredible year for the Humboldt Broncos organization, Johnston said. "We were treated to a very exciting style of play," he said, calling those who wore the Broncos jerseys this year "a special group of men" and "the most talented, highly-skilled group of individuals ever in this league."Though the season ended before they could reach all of their goals, they accomplished much. "This group of young men worked their tails off for us this year. They won the first-ever Canalta Cup... which was no easy task.... and they captured the last-ever ANAVET Cup championship.""We are all proud of the efforts you put in and the success you've had this season," Johnston told the players. The graduating players, he thanked for being a part of the Broncos' tradition. "The memories you gave the fans will keep them talking about this season for a long time. You will always be a Humboldt Bronco and you are welcome back anytime."To those players eligible to return, Johnston issued a challenge. "When you come back, I hope you have a bit of a bitter taste in your mouth still. I don't know about you, but it feels like there's some unfinished business to take care of next season.... Come May 2013, I hope to be in Summerside, P.E.I., cheering the Humboldt Broncos on to another national championship."
