HUMBOLDT — With strong defensive play and solid goaltending, the Humboldt Broncos earned an important 3-0 shutout victory over Nipawin on Saturday night.
“I thought overall it was probably our best 60 minutes of hockey, start to finish, this season,” Humboldt head coach Scott Barney said.
The victory came after a 6-4 Friday loss to Yorkton. The win kept the Broncos (23-21-7-2, as of Sunday) within a point of the streaking Estevan Bruins (26-21-3-1) for the seventh seed in the upcoming Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoffs. Estevan, which had won five straight as of the weekend, had 56 points in the standings, while Humboldt had 55.
“I think they’re really coming together as a team,” Barney said of his Broncos. “When you have an effort like that this time of year, especially after the tough loss the night before, it really shows the character of the group. We are really excited going forward here for the rest of the season.”
The victory also ensured the team had a six-point advantage – three victories – in the fight with Kindersley (21-24-6-1, 49 points) to hold onto the final postseason berth. Humboldt’s win eliminated Weyburn and Notre Dame from the postseason.
On Saturday night, defenceman Nicksha Eric and forwards Logan Kurki and Justin Jamer provided the offence. It was all the Broncos needed as they limited the Hawks to 26 shots – and Brendan Forman stopped all of them.
“I thought defensively our game was as good as we’ve had,” said Barney, who said the video work and concepts the staff preaches daily are sinking in.
While the Broncos ensured there were not too many quality chances, Barney said “When the saves were needed, [Forman] made the big saves. That’s all you can ask for is making the save and giving confidence to the players in front of them.”
Regarding his second shutout of the season, Forman said:
“I think I didn’t overcomplicate my game. Just stayed calm and focused. Also, the team played great in front of me and made my job a lot easier. Having my family and billet family there to watch and support me at the game helped me to relax and have fun. Thanks to the coaching staff for believing in me and my teammates.”
Against Yorkton on Friday, the Broncos sent a whopping 62 shots at the Terriers’ net. Yorkton goalie Philippe Bond stopped 58 of them, while Hunter Lolacher made 17 saves for Humboldt. Barney said he felt the Broncos played well, but that:
“Their goalie played great and I thought we gave up way too many high-end scoring chances. When you give a team like that opportunities to score like that, it’s going into the net. I thought Michael played great. He had no chance on those goals that went it.”
Friday featured a live player and staff auction, while Saturday’s game was followed by a shootout contest. Monday’s game versus Kindersley, which was after the Journal’s deadline, was followed by a Skate with the Broncos.
Foster receives scholarship
Before Saturday’s game, 20-year-old forward Logan Foster received a $2,000 scholarship from the Rotary Club of Regina Eastview. The award is presented annually to a Broncos player. Foster, the team’s leading scorer, has not yet decided on his post-secondary plans.
The Broncos last week
Friday, Feb. 14 in Humboldt
Yorkton 6, Humboldt 4
Broncos Scorers: Tristan Shewchuk (3), Cody Hough
Terriers Scorers: Gavin Ingram (2), Brett LaGrandeur, Jordan Guiney, Keenan Taphorn, Steven Norum
Goalies: Michael Harroch, Humboldt, 17 saves on 22 shots; Phillipe Bond, Yorkton, 58 on 62
Attendance: 779
Notes: The teams were tied 2-2 at the end of the first period. Yorkton took a 4-2 lead in the second period and led 5-2 in the third. Hough and Shewchuk scored to cut the deficit to one, 5-4. Taphorn added a goal for Yorkton. Logan Foster had two assists.
Friday, Feb. 14 in Humboldt
Yorkton 6, Humboldt 4
Broncos Scorers: Tristan Shewchuk (3), Cody Hough
Terriers Scorers: Gavin Ingram (2), Brett LaGrandeur, Jordan Guiney, Keenan Taphorn, Steven Norum
Goalies: Michael Harroch, Humboldt, 17 saves on 22 shots; Phillipe Bond, Yorkton, 58 on 62
Attendance: 779
Notes: The teams were tied 2-2 at the end of the first period. Yorkton took a 4-2 lead in the second period and led 5-2 in the third. Hough and Shewchuk scored to cut the deficit to one, 5-4. Taphorn added a goal for Yorkton. Logan Foster had two assists.
Saturday, Feb. 15 in Humboldt
Humboldt 3, Nipawin 0
Broncos Scorers: Logan Kurki, Justin Jamer, Nicksha Eric
Goalies: Brendan Forman, Humboldt, 26 saves on 26 shots; Dalton Dosch, Nipawin, 30 on 33
Attendance: 833
Notes: Forman posted his second shutout of the season. Eric’s fifth goal of the season gave Humboldt a 1-0 first period lead. In the second period, Kurki and Jamer lit the lamp to give the Broncos a 3-0 lead.
This Week
The Humboldt Broncos (23-21-7-2, as of Sunday) were to host Kindersley (21-24-6-1) on Monday and to play in Melville (15-30-2-4) on Wednesday, after the Journal deadline.
