HUMBOLDT — The Humboldt Broncos earned three points in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League standings on its road trip last week.
The squad played a grueling three games in as many days. The Broncos fell 6-5 in a shootout in Flin Flon on Thursday to earn a point. The next night they picked up two with a big 5-1 victory over the La Ronge Ice Wolves. On Saturday, the Broncos lost a matinee tilt, 8-4, to the Ice Wolves.
“I thought it was a good overall weekend for the players,” head coach Scott Barney said. “Obviously, a tough shootout loss on Thursday night, but I thought the guys battled hard. It’s a tough three games when you go from Flin Flon and drive to La Ronge for two games. Pretty happy getting those points out of there.”
After the northern trip, Humboldt had a 13-9-2-2 record. That placed them forth in the SJHL standings with 30 points. The Broncos trailed Flin Flon, who had 33 points – the same as second place Melfort, by three and were one ahead of fifth-place Yorkton.
Various Broncos had strong performances on the road trip. One of them was Humboldt’s own Dawson Cochrane. The former Humboldt midget AA goalie started on Saturday and made 39 saves to help the Broncos down the Ice Wolves. Cochrane has been playing Junior B with the Saskatoon Royals. With Michael Harroch missing games with injuries, the 18-year-old Cochrane has backed up Brendan Forman at times this season. He has appeared in three games for Humboldt. Cochrane also saw time with the Broncos as an affiliated player last season.
“Dawson had a great game... He made some big saves for us,” Barney said. “It was great to see for him, especially being a hometown guy from Humboldt. Hopefully his play continues to get stronger and stronger and he can develop as a goalie.”
Rookie Logan Kurki had a strong road trip. The forward from Maple Ridge, B.C. recorded five points in three games last week. Kurki had two goals in the win over La Ronge, a goal in Flin Flon, and a pair of assists in a loss to the Ice Wolves. Over the last four games, he had six points – which is half of the 12 points he has posted in 13 games since joining the Broncos. The team acquired the 18-year-old in mid-October. He was teammates last season on the Vancouver NE Chiefs midget AAA team with current Broncos Cody Hough and Harroch.
“Logan Kurki has been really good. The whole line recently – him, [Bryson] Cecconi, and [Karter] McNarland has been really good as of late,” Barney said. “Logan has got tons of skill, can really shoot the puck and he’s starting to get himself to the dirty areas where the goals are.”
Twenty-year-old forward Bryson Cecconi recorded three points in each of the contests the Broncos earned points in last week. The Powell River, B.C. product lit the lamp twice and had an assist against Flin Flon. He recorded a goal and two assists in the first La Ronge contest.
Two of Cecconi’s goals last week came on the powerplay. Cecconi, Zach McIntyre and Logan Foster all have five powerplay goals to lead the team. They have helped the Broncos post the second best power play percentage in the league at 19.9, as of Sunday.
The Broncos Last Week
Thursday, Nov. 14 in Flin Flon
Flin Flon 6, Humboldt 5 SO
Broncos Scorers: Bryson Cecconi (2), Logan Kurki, Tristan Shewchuk, Nicksha Eric
Bombers Scorers: Cole Rafuse (2), Alec Malo, Matt Raymond, Tristan Lemyre
Goalies: Brendan Forman, Humboldt, 55 saves on 60 shots; Kyle Jessiman, Flin Flon, 8 on 11; Jacob Delorme, Flin Flon, 28 on 30
Attendance: 607
Notes: Humboldt led 3-1 in the first period and was up 3-2 at the first intermission. The game was tied 4-4 after the second period. Lemyre scored with less than two minutes remaining to send the game to overtime. In the shootout, Malo was the lone shooter out of five to score. Cecconi had three points, while Karter McNarland and Shewchuk each had two. Bronco Josh Paulhus and Cole Vardy of the Bombers fought in the second period.
Friday, Nov. 15 in La Ronge
Humboldt 5, La Ronge 1
Broncos Scorers: Logan Kurki (2), Maz Gudnason, Bryson Cecconi
Ice Wolves Scorer: Grant Longtin
Goalies: Dawson Cochrane, Humboldt, 39 saves on 40 shots; Steven Bacovsky, La Ronge, 43 on 48
Attendance: 734
Notes: Humboldt led 1-0 and 4-1 at the intermissions. Cecconi had three points for the second straight night. Chase Felguerias recorded two assists. Cochrane is an affiliated player from the Junior B Saskatoon Royals who played last season for the Humboldt midget AA team last season.
Saturday, Nov. 16 in La Ronge
La Ronge 8, Humboldt 4
Broncos Scorers: Zach McIntyre, Max Gudnason, Logan Foster, Spencer Weinkauf
Ice Wolves Scorers: Ben Mason (2), Kaiden Collumb, Rowan Barnes, Jordan Mish, Jake Gudjonson, Booker Chacalias, Aaron Greyeyes
Goalies: Brendan Forman, Humboldt, 35 saves on 43 shots; Liam McGarva, La Ronge, 45 on 49
Attendance: 435
Notes: After a 3-3 first period, the Ice Wolves scored three goals in the second to take a 6-3 lead. McIntyre and Logan Kurki each had two points.
This Week
The Humboldt Broncos (13-9-2-2) have a trio of games this week. The squad hosts Estevan (7-10-2-1) on Wednesday and Weyburn (10-14-0-1) on Thursday. In Wilcox on Saturday, the Broncos tangle with the Notre Dame Hounds (10-12-2-1).
