When Humboldt Broncos head coach Darcy Haugan was asked about what he liked about defenceman Greg Moro’s game, he had a long list.
“Size, speed, strength, compete level …. Pick almost any adjective you want and you can put Greg Moro’s name beside it.”
Moro has been a crucial cog for the Bronocs this season. The squad went 0-2 on the road. After last week, Humboldt was 7-15-2-1. The Broncos allowed 13 goals in its pair of games last week.
“We are playing hard,” Haugan said. “It is obviously disappointing to lose both but I think we have to keep sticking with it. I think if we can get an improvement between the pipes, it can be on the up and up. We have to get all aspects of our game going at the same time. We have let our goaltending down at times. … Everything has to be working.”
As of Nov. 23, Moro was tied for the team scoring lead with forwards Daniel McKitrick and Trevor Posch with 15 points. He was tied for third on the squad for goals with five. The 6-foot-5, 201-pound blue liner from Edmonton is also a major defensive presence and helps lead as an assistant captain.
“I think he is probably the best defenceman in the league,” Haugan said. “You won’t find many better than him.”
Moro is on pace to surpass the five goals and 27 points he posted last season. When asked about his offensive success, Moro wrote in a text interview that it is “Mainly preparation and the desire to improve my game from last year.”
Moro takes great pride in his play at the other end of the ice.
“I believe it is one of the most important roles,” Moro texted. “It is a part of the game that is most recognized when mistakes are made. Also it allows for a team to not only shut down an opposing team but be a catalyst for the offensive side as well.”
Moro came to Humboldt as an 18-year-old. He has greatly enjoyed his three seasons with the Broncos.
“The people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting here has been the best part. I’ve had three great coaches along with players that will be lifelong friends. Also members from within the organization and within the community have made me feel at home the whole time.”
Moro is proud to play in the Elgar Petersen Arena. The best part?
“Knowing the history and success that has taken place in previous years within that arena. It is something special to play on the same ice, with the same organization that won multiple championships and two Royal Bank Cup titles.”
The Broncos have been pleased to have him – and not just as hockey player.
“As good as Greg is on the ice, he is even better off the ice,” Haugan said. “A fantastic human.”
Moro has had some interest from universities for next season. It is his goal to play NCAA Division I hockey, the highest college level in the U.S. Moro plans on studying business leaning towards management. One day he’d like to run his own company.
Roster Move
Last week the Broncos sent 20-year-old goalie Brett Clark and future considerations to the Calgary Mustangs of the Alberta Junior Hockey League for Rosetown product Brayden Uhrich. The 18-year-old forward had five goals and three assists in 11 games. Last season, according to eliteprospects.com, 6-foot, 180-pound Uhrich played four games for the Western Hockey League’s Saskatoon Blades, one with the Junior B Saskatoon Quakers, and 10 with the Rosetown midget A team. He also has played for the Saskatoon Contacts midget AAA squad. Goalie Isaac Labelle of the Saskatoon Contacts was called up to play in one game last week. Haugan expects another netminder to join the team this week.
This Week
The Broncos are at home this Friday night to take on the league-leading Battlefords North Stars at the Elgar Petersen Arena. The week starts for the Broncos with a road game in Kindersley on Wednesday. The Humboldt squad wraps up the week by playing in the Viterra Division-leading Weyburn Red Wings on Saturday.
Next week, on Dec. 1, the Broncos will play at Nipawin. It also marks date where teams must cut down to 25 cards.
Last Week
On Nov. 20, the Broncos trailed the Estevan Bruins 2-0 at the end of the first period and 7-3 at the second intermission. The squad scored three goals in the third period to put pressure on the Bruins. Ultimately, Humboldt fell 8-6 on the road.
“We showed some resiliency, which is good,” Haugan said.
Logan Schatz, Connor Swystun, Wesley Shipton, Corey Dambrauskas, Daniel McKitrick, and captain Anthony Kapelke scored for the Broncos. Trevor Posch had three assist on the night. Clark started the game and stopped 25 of the 32 shots he faced. In relief, Brett Friesen played just over 17 minutes and stopped both shots he faced. Estevan’s final goal was into an empty net.
Keegan Allison and Lynnden Pastachak each scored twice for Estevan. Also scoring for the Bruins were Darcy DeRoose, Owen LaClare, Ty Barnstable, and Levi Barnstable. Tyler Fuhr made27 saves on 33 shots.
The next night the Broncos fell 5- 1 on the road to the Notre Dame Hounds in Wilcox. Humboldt outshot their opponents 31-24 but were unable to light the lamp until the Jarrett Fontaine scored in the third period. Friesen made 19 saves on 22 shots. Two of the Hound’s goals, including an empty net marker, came on the power play.
Haugan felt his team played very well. However, in the first two periods, Notre Dame was able to score four goals on 14 shots.
Conor MacLead had two goals for the Hounds, while Gage Ramsay, Jack Flaman, and Den Duperreault had a goal each. Riley Welyk had 30 saves.
Catching Up With
Patrick Tran (2009-2011) currently lives in Langenburg with his girlfriend Jennifer. He works at PotashCorp Rcocanville Division 3.
Tran played a couple games for the Broncos during the 2009-2010 campaign before joining the Tri-Town Thunder. He helped the Junior B squad win the 2010 Prairie Junior Hockey League championship. Tran spent the next season with the Broncos before capping his junior career with a career-best year for the La Ronge Ice Wolves. When asked about his time in Humboldt, the Nokomis product wote in an Internet interview:
“What I enjoyed the most was having the opportunity to play for my childhood idols, the Humboldt Broncos. … Specials thanks to my billet families, Jeremy and Meagan Clark and Wessell and Helene Hamman, for all of the support during my time there.”
