Adopting a playoff mentality, the Humboldt Broncos snapped an eight-game losing streak and started what they hope is a long winning streak.
Dec. 4, the Broncos defeated the visiting Yorkton Terriers, 4-3, to bring the losing streak to an end.
Two night later, on Dec. 6, Humboldt dominated the Viterra Division-leading Weyburn Red Wings, 5-1, to win two in a row for the first time this season. Of the Dec. 4 win, hometown product Jarrett Fontaine, who scored Humboldt’s last goal of the game, commented:
“The game was a playoff game for us. (Head coach) Darcy (Haugan) kept saying “game 7, game 7” and it sure felt like it. To get the win was huge for our confidence and a relief or burden off of our shoulders as we have been working so hard but haven’t been getting the results even when at times we deserved it.
“To beat Yorkton was big because they are one of the teams we are battling for a last playoff spot and it was even better that we could do it in regulation so they would end up with zero points.”
The Broncos were 2-2 overall last week. As of Dec. 6, they were 9-19-3-1 in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Talking about two victories last week, Haugan said:
“Probably the two biggest things were we got fantastic goaltending. Timely saves. … The second thing was our team discipline. Discipline in the systems we are trying to do. … I hope that is a sign of things to come.”
Backstopping the Broncos to the two victories last week was Ryan Larochelle.
The Edmonton product played the latter part of last season in Humboldt. He was traded in the summer but was reacquired last week.
“Ryan is great guy and the guys enjoyed him last year,” Fontaine texted. “Seeing him back gave a little life to dressing room, which is exactly what we needed. As for his goaltending, he is a guy who doesn’t give up on any play and really battles as was pretty evident (Friday). He was awesome for us.”
Haugan was pleased with his team’s special teams play. They were able to get a timely power-play goal each night.
Big Wins
In a true team effort, the Broncos brought their losing streak to an end against Yorkton on Dec. 4. Four different players scored for Humboldt. Larochelle stopped 27 of the 30 shots he faced in his return to the Broncos.
The game was tied 1-1 after the first period.
In the second session, Josh Roberts, on a penalty shot, and Trevor Posch scored to put Humboldt on top 3-1. The Terriers cut the lead to one, 3-2, but Fontaine scored to give Broncos some breathing room. The Terriers were able to score once more but couldn’t tie it up. Defenceman Connor Swystun had Humboldt’s first goal on a power play.
Shane Sherbang, Paul Savage, and Carson Welke scored for Yorkton. Jakob Severson made 19 saves.
On Dec. 6, the Broncos made it two in a row. Swystun scored in the first period to give his team a 1-0 lead, while Michael Korol made it 2-0 in the second. In the third period, Weyburn’s Carson Rose was able to get one past Larochelle, but Humboldt lit the lamp three times. Laramie Kostelansky scored twice, while Fontaine scored his 10th of the season on an empty-net marker. Larochelle had 31 saves on the night. His Weyburn counterpart, Jack Burgart, made 21.
Humboldt called up blue liner Landon Markovich from the midget AAA Saskatoon Blazers for the game.
Humboldt lost 4-3 on Dec. 1 to the Nipawin Hawks on the road. Nipawin led 2-1 and 4-2 at the intermissions.
Joshua Bergen scored his first of the year for Humboldt, while Fontaine and Posch also lit the lamp. Billy Gorn made 25 saves. Scoring for Nipaiwn were Chase Thudium (two), Taylor Lotoski, and Ian Wolkowicz. Kristian Stead had 24 saves for the Hawks.
Humboldt fell 9-3 to Kindersley at home on Dec. 2.
Daniel McKitrick scored twice for the Broncos. He leads Humboldt with 23 points and 12 goals. Wesley Shipton also had a goal. Gorn made 24 saves. Humboldt’s Jacob Wasserman of the hometown midget squad was called up to back up Gorn.
Carson Pickett, Daniell Lange, and Dexter Bricker each scored twice for Kindersley. Also recording goals for the Klippers were Matt VanderSloot, Cole Young, and Austin Calladine. Branden Bilodeau had 26 saves.
Roster Moves
Around the Dec. 1 roster cutdown date, the Broncos tweaked their roster. Teams had to get down past 25 players.
Standout 20-year-old defenceman Greg Moro was swapped to the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Lloydminster Bobcats for future considerations.
The Bobcats host the 2016 Royal Bank Cup, Canada’s national Junior A championship, so they are loading up with veteran talent.
This season, Moro, an Edmonton product, had 16 points, six goals and 40 penalty minutes in 28 games. Haugan said it is hard to see a guy like Moro go and the Broncos wish him the best of luck. The head coach emphasized it is a new chapter and it is time for other players to step up.
Larochelle was acquired back from the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Winkler Flyers for future considerations.
According to hockeydb.com, the 19-year-old Edmonton product saw action in nine games for Winkler and was 5-4 with a 2.30 goals against average.
The Broncos picked up a pair of 18-year-old defencemen from the Kindersley Klippers.
Six-foot, 175-pound Andrew McCann, from Calgary, had four assists in nine games. McCann split last season between the AJHL and junior B. He was acquired for a player development fee.
The Broncos also added Lethbridge product Logan Boulet. The 6-foot, 190-pound blue liner saw action in 12 games this season with the Klippers.
Defenceman Kyle Craddock was released. He returned to the Junior B North Peace Navigators in his hometown of Peace River, Alta.
Goalie Brett Friesen was also released. He has joined the Selkirk Steelers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.
