After many tough nights and disappointing performances the Humboldt Broncos are starting to turn the corner.
They played a pair of home games this week and despite only a 1-1 record they played really solid games both times.
Of late the efforts have been a lot better and a lot more consistent from the players, which is comforting for the coaches says Assistant Coach, Brayden Klimosko.
“We have been seeing some solid efforts for most nights so that’s been really good. We’ve been really impressed with that part of it… it’s been nice to see here late how the guys have been responding.”
Their first game came against the top team in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, the Battlefords North Stars on Feb. 23.
The North Stars came out of the gates flying, scoring 44 seconds into the game and adding a shorthanded goal at 9:19 of the first to give the North Stars an early 2-0 lead.
The Broncos refused to quit despite the early deficit and were dragged back into the hockey game thanks to a pair of goals from leading goal scorer Daniel McKitrick. McKitrick’s pair knotted the score up at two where it remained through the end of the first period.
After the Broncos leading goal scorer McKitrick took over in the first period, North Stars leading scorer Igor Leonenko took over in the second scoring two goals and adding one assist to give the North Stars a three goal lead. Not to be outdone Broncos leading point getter Logan Schatz responded with a goal of his own to send the Broncos into the second intermission trailing 5-3.
The North Stars added another goal in the third to skate away with a 6-3 win. Despite the loss the Broncos played a solid game but were just outmatched by a much more experienced North Stars squad who had six players born in 1995 compared to the Broncos’ zero.
North Stars goalie Ryan Rewerts finished with 17 saves on 20 shots, while Broncos starter Carter Seminuk finished with 41 on 47.
The Broncos’ next game came on Feb. 26 when they hosted the Melville Millionaires in their final home game of the regular season.
The Broncos started out strong as they outshot the Millionaires 6-1 in the first seven minutes of the game and carried the majority of the play.
It was the Millionaires who broke through first scoring on their second shot of the game to grab a 1-0 lead and completely turn the momentum in their favour. The Millionaires scored again three minutes later to extend their lead to 2-0 where the score stood after the first period.
After the Broncos carried the majority of the shots early in the period, the Millionaires dominated the shot clock after their goal taking a 14-10 advantage.
McKitrick got the Broncos on the board just over three minutes into the second period converting on a breakaway and Trevor Posch scored his first of two goals on the night 23 seconds later to tie the score at two.
Neither team found the back of the net for the remainder of the period and the teams went into the dressing room deadlocked at two, with the shots favouring the Broncos 22-21.
Just four minutes into the third period Chris Van Os-Shaw scored the third Broncos goal to give them a lead they would not relinquish.
Posch rounded out the scoring with his second of the game in the final five minutes on a perfect shot off the post and in to give the Broncos the 4-2 win. The final shot total also favoured the Broncos 32-30.
The Broncos top line of Posch, Van Os-Shaw and Captain Logan Schatz carried the Broncos offense scoring three times and adding five assists.
The win sent the Broncos fans home happy in their final chance to see the Broncos play on home ice this season, who gave the players a standing ovation as the game ended.
Klimosko said it was nice to be able to send the crowd home happy with a win.
“They deserve it… having a good crowd like tonight knowing we’re out of the playoffs that really means something so I appreciate that and hopefully they’re back out supporting us next year.”
This Week
With the home portion of their schedule complete, the Broncos head out on the road for three games this week with stops in the Battlefords on Mar. 1, Kindersley on Mar. 2 and they wrap up their season in Yorkton on Mar. 5 as they look to snap their 24 game road-losing streak.
Kilmosko says they need to play more like they have been at home then on the road this season if they want to snap that streak.
“The problem is we haven’t been playing the same at home and on the road all season… so we have to figure out what we do right here at home so that we can bring those into games away from the EPA, so it’s definitely something that’s been a work in progress and we better be ready for the next three games.”
