The Humboldt Broncos were not good guests last week.
The squad won three straight road games to catapult itself from tenth to eighth place in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) standings. Their move up in the standings bumped two of their hosts down. As of Feb. 8, the Broncos were on a five-game winning streak.
“It was a huge week to go three for three on the road,” Humboldt head coach Ryan Smith said.
However, the Broncos bench boss emphasized the team is not yet satisfied.
“At the start of the season, the goal is to make the playoffs,” Smith said. “That is not a certainty yet.”
The top 10 of the SJHL’s 12 teams make the playoffs. As of Feb. 8, the Broncos were in eighth spot with 47 points. Estevan also had 47 points and were in ninth. The Weyburn Red Wings, on a three game losing streak, sat in 10th place with 44 points, while La Ronge had 40 points and were in 11th.
Smith said the Broncos have believed in themselves and what the team has been working on in practice. He has also watched some team chemistry really develop.
“They just seem to have come together the last two or three weeks,” Smith said. “The results have gone hand in hand with that.”
The Broncos had a big impact on the SJHL playoff race with back-to-back wins against Weyburn and Estevan last weekend. SJHL teams get two points for a win so, in a sense, those were four point games for Humboldt.
“This is unique in itself in sport when you can leapfrog two teams in back-to-back nights in their barns … It was definitely a playoff atmosphere in Weyburn and Estevan,” said Smith, who emphasized he was proud of his team.
The Broncos quieted the opposition’s crowds with stingy defence. They only allowed only four goals last week and just one in their last two games. With veteran Jack Romanuik nursing a minor injury, rookie Ryan Larochelle was impressive in winning his first three starts of the season. Larochelle was called up from the Prairie Junior Hockey League’s West Central Rage after Brock Hamm was called up himself to the Western Hockey League’s Saskatoon Blades in January.
“Ryan is a battler,” Smith said. “He doesn’t quit on pucks. He doesn’t quit on plays.”
Big Game Saturday
The Bronco host the Weyburn Red Wings at the Elgar Petersen Arena on Feb. 14. This is yet another important contest as the Broncos try to earn a postseason berth.
Earlier this week the Humboldt squad was slated to host Kindersley on Feb. 10 and play in Melville on Feb. 11. The La Ronge Ice Wolves come to Humboldt on Feb. 17.
Last Week
The Broncos came out strong and with good pace in the first period on Feb. 3 against Kindersley. Smith said it set the tone not only for that game but also the week. The Broncos triumphed 4-3.
Humboldt led 2-0 and 3-1 at the intermissions. The Broncos increased their lead to 4-1 in the third and held off the Klippers. Both teams scored twice on the power play.
The Broncos got a lot of point production from their blue line. Defencemen Colton Laroque, Ashton Wake, and Anthony Kapelke all scored for Humboldt. Two of those goals came on the power play. Forward Jarrett Fonatine scored his 14th of the year for the Broncos.
When asked about the blue line scoring binge, Smith said “Just getting pucks on net from the point and good things happen … Our D are doing a good job at getting pucks through.”
Larochelle stopped 24 of the 27 shots he faced. Tristan Hermanson of the midget AAA Swift Current Legionnaires was called up for week and record his first SJHL point. He assisted on Laroque’s game-winning goal. Smith noted that Hermanson played well. Ben
Gilbertson of the Humboldt’s entry in the midget division of the Centre Four Hockey League backed up Larochelle.
Braden Oleksyn, Joel Webb, and Marc Dubeau had Kindersley’s goals. Klippers goalie Evan Weninger had 35 saves.
The Broncos kept things rolling with a 4-1 win on the road against Weyburn on Feb. 6. Larochelle and strong team defence kept the Red Wings off the scoreboard until the third period. Humboldt led 1-0 and 2-0 at the breaks. Drake’s Josh Bergen, Gage Joel, Fontaine, and Ryley McNeil provided the Broncos’ goals. Austin Swystun from the midget AAA Saskatoon Blazers served as Larochelle’s backup. Broncos defenceman Connor Swystun is his older brother.
Aidan Teilborg had Weyburn’s lone goal. Red Wings goalie Nick Malvin stopped 27 shots.
The Broncos won their third game of the week by shutting out Estevan, 2-0, on Feb. 7 on the road. Larochelle earned his first SJHL shutout by making 31 saves. Joel and Laroque each scored to give Humboldt all the offence they needed. The Broncos killed off all five of the Bruins’ power plays, while converting on one of their five opportunities.
Catching Up With
Justin Buzzeo (2009-2011) has helped Ferris State University elevate its men’s hockey program, according to associate head coach Drew Famulak. Currently in his fourth and final season at the Big Rapids, Mich. School, Buzzeo helped the team win regular season championships in 2012 in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and last year in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
This season Buzzeo has six goals and 15 points in 29 games. The skilled player has also provided the Bulldogs with important leadership.
“He has got that veteran presence that helps out the younger kids. … Not only does he lead by example, but he is a very calming influence in the lockerroom,” Famulak said.
The Windsor, Ont. product played parts of two seasons in Humboldt. He split his final junior season between the Broncos and Yorkton Terriers.
