Broncos win third straight away from EPA

The Humboldt Broncos are a streaky hockey club, with that brings ebbs and flow to long Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League season.

Fortunately for the green and gold an upswing has transpired with a 4-2 win in Kindersley Tuesday. That win is the club’s third straight on the road and eighth game in a row the Broncos have secured at least  a point.

Rookie sniper Logan Hunter opened the scoring in the first with his 11th of the season staking a 1-0 lead after one period.

Xavier Labelle curved one past Justen Close making it 2-0 for the visitors in the West Central Events Centre. Conner Lukan scored his tenth of the season in the second expanding the lead to 3-0 before Tanner Thompson closed the gap to 3-1 ahead of the second intermission.

Matthieu Gomercic restored the three goal cushion with his eighth in the third, Keillan Olson cut the lead in half later on in the frame but the Broncos held on for their 19th win of the season. The two points also vault the team past Notre Dame for second in the division.

Assistant coach Mark Cross said the month has gone well for the club.

“It’s always nice to string some wins together on the road. We have been playing some good hockey here in December,” Cross said.

Hunter provided two assists for three points, the 18 year-old St. Albert, Alta. product sits fifth in rookie scoring with 23 points. Brayden Camrud chipped in with a trio of assists.

Jacob Wassermann made 32 stops for his second straight win. Humboldt was without veteran defensemen Stephen Wack, Bryce Fiske  and Logan Boulet. Cross said his young group played well.

“We were real pleased with what our d core was able to accomplish tonight. We were missing a few key pieces on the back end but we felt the rest of the players stepped up and played a very responsible and simplified hockey game,” he said.

Humboldt will now prepare for a weekend home-and-home with the Nipawin Hawks starting Friday at the Elgar Petersen Arena. Cross said they need to be ready for the league’s best.

“They obviously have the best record in the league and play a very fast, high pressure game. We need to be prepared for the pace of these games to be much more intense,” Cross concluded.

Face-off is 7:30 p.m. as is Saturday’s return date to the Centennial Arena.