At the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Showcase, the Humboldt Broncos are seeking a pair of victories and to highlight their talents.
“I’m looking forward to having the whole team there and being able to spend some time with them outside of Humboldt, and as well I’m eager to show the scouts what I am capable of and what our team is all about,” wrote Broncos defenceman Anthony Kapelke in a text interview. “An opportunity to play in front of scouts at higher levels is always something to be ecstatic about.”
At the SJHL Showcase – which draws a variety of scouts, the Broncos, who have a home game on Friday, will play Kindersley on Oct. 6 and Battlefords on Oct. 7. Humboldt went 1-2 last week. As of Sept. 27, the squad sat second in the Finning Division, behind Battlefords, with a 2-2-1 record.
“I think that we have a lot of the pieces here,” Broncos head coach and general manager Darcy Haugan said. “We know what our shortcomings are. We are working hard to address them.”
Haugan said that the team is looking for increased focus. He said that improved focus leads to better execution.
The SJHL Showcase runs Oct. 4-7 in Warman. It has drawn an average of more than 70 scouts from the National Hockey League, Western Hockey League, National Collegiate Athletic Association, and Canadian Interuniversity Sport levels over the last two years, SJHL President Bill Chow said. Unlike the past couple of seasons where players attended the event as individuals, all 12 SJHL squads will take to the ice.
“I think for hockey fans that want to enjoy a lot of great hockey in a short period of time the games should be very entertaining,” Chow said. “This year the wins at the Showcase will reflect in the regular season standings so the games could mean a lot at the end of the season.”
Kapelke grew up in Edmonton and played his first season and half of junior hockey in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. The AJHL features all of its teams at its Showcase.
“I believe that brought an extremely intense atmosphere to the games because not only did individuals want to impress scouts in the stands, but also wanted to advance their teams in the standings,” Kapelke texted. “With Saskatchewan now following this format, I believe it’ll bring a higher intensity to the games and elevate the compete level. As a result, it will push individuals to play harder, therefore showing the scouts what they are really made of.”
Friday at Home
In the Broncos’ lone game this week they host the Estevan Bruins on Oct. 2 at the Elgar Petersen Arena. The Bruins are off to a 3-2 start, as of Sept. 27. They will host the Western Canada Cup this season and have compiled what they hope is a title-contending squad..
The Week
Jace Pesch, a 19-year-old from East Grand Forks, Minn, whacked home the game winner in a 4-3 victory on the road in Flin Flon on Sept. 25. Haugan said that the line of Pesch, Tristan Hermanson, and Laramie Kostelansky had a strong week. He was pleased to see the young line finding success and chemistry.
Until Pesch’s goal with less than five minutes to play against the Bombers, the lead had swung back and forth all evening. Humboldt had led early thanks to an 18-year-old Andrew Thompson’s marker, but Flin Flon was up 2-1 at the first intermission. Connor Kortko, a 20-year, scored the game’s next two goals to put the Broncos on top. Flin Flon was able to tie things up, which led to Pesch’s game winner. Brett Clark had 37 saves to earn the win.
Scoring for the Bombers were Nick Shumlanski, Curtis Roach, and Brandon Switzer. Zac Robidoux had 16 saves for Flin Flon.
The next night the Broncos lost 6-2 on the road in La Ronge. Kapelke and Daniel McKitrick scored for Humboldt. Brett Friesen started and stopped nine of the 13 shots he faced.
Clark came on in relief and had 17 saves.
Cole Porter netted a hat trick for La Ronge, while Joel Blaquiere scored twice. Brandon Hodge scored La Ronge’s other goal. Kris Joyce recorded 44 saves.
On Sept. 22, the Broncos fell 6-2 at home to the Battlefords North Stars. Connor Swystun and Colin Woods each scored their first of the season for Humboldt. Friesen stopped 18 of the 24 shots he faced.
The visitors scored two goals in each period. Coby Downs had two goals for Battlefords. Also scoring for the North Stars were Connor Sych, Layne Young, Matthew Havens, and Jake McMillen. Goaltender Ryan Rewerts had 24 saves.
Catching Up With
Mark Bradshaw (2002-2004) is a middle school physical education teacher in his hometown of Spruce Grove, Alta. Bradshaw and his wife, Keri, have a three-year-old son named Jayce. Bradshaw has coached the last several years at the bantam AAA and midget AA levels.
Bradshaw was a standout defenceman for the Broncos. He helped the squad win the 2003 Royal Bank Cup, Canada’s national Junior A championship.
“What I enjoyed most about playing in Humboldt was the relationships I built with not only my teammates and coaches, but also with the members of the organization and community,” Bradshaw wrote in an email interview. “Humboldt is a great hockey town, and the Broncos are an incredible organization. And winning the Royal Bank Cup in 2003 was awesome as well!”
