HUMBOLDT — Although the Humboldt Broncos did not triumph in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s opening weekend, their head coach was pleased with their effort.
The team fell to Notre Dame, 4-1, in front of 1,304 fans at the Elgar Petersen Arena in their home and season opener on Saturday night. The next evening the squad battled back to force overtime and earn a standings point in a 2-1 shootout loss against the same Hounds in Wilcox.
“The boys gave it their all and battled hard,” Broncos head coach and general manager Scott Barney said. “Obviously, there is some fine tuning we need to do this week and watch some video on areas we need to improve our game.”
The Broncos outshot the Hounds 48-19 in the opener and 42-27 on Sunday.
“Ninety shots in two games is a great start and, once they catch a break, they should start going in the net,” Barney said.
Saturday’s season and home opening contest kicked off the Broncos’ 50th anniversary season. The City of Humboldt proclaimed Sept. 9 to 15 as Humboldt Bronco Week.
The home opener was a special and emotional evening as Ryan Straschnitzki returned to Humboldt for the first time in more than 500 days while former teammate Graysen Grayson wore the captain’s “C”. They are survivors of the April 6, 2018 bus crash that claimed 16 lives. The duo were among the 13 injured. Paralyzed from the chest down, Straschnitzki has signed with Adidas and is pursuing sledge hockey. After a season away from playing competitive hockey but one spent coaching midget AAA, Cameron is back with the Broncos.
In the preseason, Barney praised the now 20-year-old’s work ethic. Joining him on the Broncos’ leadership group are assistant captains Logan Foster, Reid Arnold and Colin MacPherson.
Hounds 4, Broncos 1
Notre Dame got on the board first on Saturday night, but Isaac Leik scored his first goal as a Bronco to tie things up at 1-1. The 18-year-old Junior A rookie hails from Duncan on B.C.’s Vancouver Island. After a scoreless second period, the Hounds had three goals in the third to take the win.
Brendan Forman took the loss in net for the Broncos. He made 15 saves on 19 shots. The Broncos sent an impressive 48 shots at Riley Kohonick, who stopped 47 of them.
Hounds 2, Broncos 1 SO
Neither team scored in the first period in Wilcox. The Hounds went up 1-0 on a power-play marker in the second. With 49 seconds remaining in the game and the goalie pulled, highly touted newcomer Tristan Shewchuk lit the lamp to send the game into overtime.
“The guys had a goal called back with five minutes left and they didn’t quit and showed resilience by scoring the goal to tie in late in the game,” Barney said.
The Hounds scored on both of their shots in the shootout. Humboldt was unable to score.
Michael Harroch made 26 saves on 27 shots for the Broncos in regulation and overtime.
Roster
The Broncos made a few roster moves last week ahead of the season opener. Eighteen-year-old rookie forward Spencer Weinkauf was acquired from Camrose of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. The Calgary product had 15 goals, 30 points, and 107 penalty minutes in 33 games in midget AAA last season.
Josh Paulhus also joined the club after being re-assigned by the Western Hockey League’s Regina Pats. The 17-year-old from Saskatoon was taken eighth overall by the Broncos in the
2017 SJHL Bantam Draft. The forward recorded 22 goals and 49 points in 44 games last season for the midget AAA Saskatoon Contacts.
Departing from Humboldt were Cole Kirkup and Henry Muchikekwanape. Kirkup, who is in 20-year-old season, was well respected by the Broncos. He led the team with 112 penalty minutes in 39 games last season. Kirkup was sent to Maritime Junior Hockey League’s Valley Wildcats, who are based in Berwick, N.S.
An 18-year-old forward who played midget AAA in Manitoba, Muchikekwanape was traded to that province’s Waywayseecappo Wolverines.
