The Humboldt Broncos wrapped up their Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) regular season by taking care of business.
The squad went 2-1 last week. The Broncos fought hard to earn an overtime victory last Friday and sewed up a playoff spot. Then Humboldt earned a win in a 10-round shootout on March 1 to claim home ice advantage for its wild card playoff series versus Weyburn.
“We had the opportunity to take things into our own hands … The win on Friday secured the playoff spot,” Humboldt head coach Ryan Smith said. “That was our goal.”
Coming off two wins in close games, Smith said the Broncos may have a little momentum going into the playoffs.
“Both games were tight checking … It was good preparation for playoff hockey where you are in those one-goal games,” the Broncos bench boss said.
While Humboldt achieved its goal of making the playoffs, Smith said the team now has to refocus and put its efforts towards winning the first round.
Playoff Time
At press time, the dates for Humboldt’s wild card series were not set in stone. The Broncos were expected to host on March 6.
The Broncos finished the regular season eighth in the SJHL with a 24-25-5-2 record. The Red Wings placed ninth after going 21-24-7-4.
“They are a very detailed team,” Smith said. “They have a lot of systems and framework. We have to work on breaking that.”
He also noted that the Red Wings have also displayed resiliency this season. While the Broncos are preparing for Weyburn, Smith said they are also working on their own game. All season long Humboldt has prided itself on being a strong defensive team. Once the Broncos get the puck, they want to go through the neutral zone with speed and limit turnovers.
In the regular season, Gray Marr, who was nursing an injury last week, paced the Broncos with 42 points. Rookie Matthew Kenney was second on the club with 36 points. Humboldt’s own Jarrett Fontaine had a team-high 17 goals. Goalie Jack Romanuik had 11 wins, a 2.92 goals against average, and an .895 save percentage during a season split between Humboldt and Melfort.
Brendan McKay led Weyburn in the regular season with 39 points, while Braden Mellon accumulated 38. Jack Burgart recorded 19 wins, a 2.39 GAA, and a .926 save percentage.
Last Week
The Broncos clinched home ice for the wild card series in dramatic fashion. Austin Duzan scored to end a 10-round shootout and earn his team a 3-2 win over Weyburn on March 1 in Humboldt. Duzan picked the top corner in the glove side – a shot Smith said the team had witnessed in practice before.
After a scoreless first period, the Broncos were up 2-0 at the second intermission. The Red Wings answered with two goals of their own in the third and neither team was able to find the back of the net in overtime. After two shooters from each side were unable to score in the shootout, Humboldt’s Corey Dambrauskas and Weyburn’s Braden Mellon scored. Then no one lit the lamp until Duzan ended the game.
In regulation, Trevor Posch and Dambrauskas scored for Humboldt. Ryan Larochelle made 28 saves. Donavon Lumb and McKay had the Red Wings’ goals. Nick Malvin had 26 saves.
Stu Symenuk scored at the 3:37 mark in overtime to boost Humboldt to a 4-3 road victory against Yorkton on Feb. 27. The victory wrapped up a playoff spot for the Broncos.
Yorkton led 3-1 after the second period, but the Broncos scored twice in the third to even things at 3-3. Symenuk scored twice for the Broncos and had four points for Humboldt.
“His game has taken off in the last little while,” said Smith of Symenuk, who had five points last week.
During the game, Symenuk, Drake’s Josh Bergen and Jon Brumwell were put together on a line and they produced. Bergen and Brumwell also lit the lamp for Humboldt. Jack Romanuik had 32 saves for the Broncos.
Scoring for Yorkton were Riley Hunt, Shane Sherban, and Tyson Enzie. Dawson MacAuley recorded 36 saves.
The Notre Dame Hounds got by Humboldt, 4-2, on Feb. 24 at home. Symenuk and Posch scored for the Broncos. Larochelle made 37 saves. Andrew Cummings scored twice for the Hounds, while Cory Anderson and Evan Werle also had goals. Hounds goalie Alexi Thibaudeau had 15 saves.
Catching Up With
John Lawrence (2011-2013) finished sixth in scoring on the University of Saskatchewan men’s hockey team in his second year. During his four-year junior career, the Newdale, Man. product played in the Western Hockey League, Manitoba Junior Hockey League, and Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
