It was a solid season on the ice for the Humboldt Broncos and they were recognized for it off the ice.
After a season which saw the Broncos compile 72 points, marking their highest total since finishing with 75 in 2012-2013, Broncos goaltender Jacob Wassermann was named the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s co-Rookie of the Year.
“It’s very exciting. It’s been a lot of hard work and a long year but with the team I had it was pretty easy to play every day,” noted Wassermann.
“(We’re) real pleased with his game and so happy for him. He’s worked extremely hard and he’s a great kid. I’ve gotten to know him over my last three years being here in Humboldt. He’s a fantastic kid and just so happy for him and his family,” noted Broncos head coach Darcy Haugan.
Wassermann was excellent in the Broncos goal this season compiling a record of 14-9-5 with a 2.69 goals against average and a .907 save percentage.
Wassermann’s numbers put him amongst the top ten goalies in the league this season, while many of his counterparts are as many as three years older than the newly turned 18-year-old.
While Wassermann enjoyed a solid rookie campaign in the SJHL he was quick to point out his teammates were a large reason why.
“They put in the work every day. It makes it easy to go out and just play my game,” he said noting his coaches also were a big part of his success, “for helping me out on the ice, making me a better hockey player every single day and putting the trust in me to let me play all the games that I got in this year, which is a big part of it.”
A lot of Wassermann’s excellent work came in the first half of the season, as he played in just five games in 2018.
While Wassermann has not been around the green and gold much recently, thanks to a Western Hockey League call-up, he was instrumental in getting the Broncos to the 72 point plateau, particularly early in the season, when Haugan noted he was probably their MVP.
“We weren’t scoring a lot of goals and you look back at October when it seemed like everything we did was a one-goal hockey game and it was very low scoring affairs. We went quite a few games there without scoring three goals and in October we went five straight games without scoring more than two goals and we were able to win three of them.”
While Wassermann did not see a lot of action in 2018 with the Broncos, he was steady when called upon, allowing two goals or less in three of his five games, posting a .903 save percentage along the way.
Wassermann’s solid season can be attributed back to the end of last season, noted Haugan, who pointed to his playoffs with the Saskatoon Blazers as a big step forward for the young goalie.
“He almost single-handedly knocked off the Pats C’s in the first round of the playoffs who ended up winning the league so that really boosted his confidence.”
Wassermann then came into the Broncos spring camp, and had a decent showing there, noted Haugan, who said his summer was the biggest reason for his solid year.
“He just worked his tail off that summer… and that really allowed him to grow and develop and then obviously with Vancouver coming into to play, and signing him and getting his foot in the door that way he just continued to grow and we were the benefactors of them not wanting him,” noted Haugan.
“I know Vancouver is probably kicking themselves for trading Jacob’s rights to Regina but I know Regina’s over the moon happy that they have a goalie like Jacob in their system for sure.”
Wassermann, who was named co-runner up with Weyburn’s Cade Kowalski, was chosen as SJHL Rookie of the Year, after first being nominated through the coaches poll, and then being selected through the media poll.
The young Humboldt native called it an honour to be recognized by both the other SJHL coaches, and then the media.
“I was very surprised by it. There’s definitely a lot of great players in this league that could have easily won the award too.”
Wassermann becomes the first Broncos player to take home an end of the year award since Ryland Pashovitz, another goalie, won Rookie of the Year in 2013-2014.
Haugan admitted that not only is it a thrill for Wassermann, but also for the organization to have another Bronco be recognized.
“That’s huge for our organization and obviously we’re thrilled. We’re really happy and I know Jacob’s really focused and I know he’d trade that award for a league championship.”
The Broncos will begin their quest for that league title when they head to Melfort on March 16 for game one of their best of seven quarterfinal series.
