The Humboldt Broncos have punched their ticket to the semi-finals, knocking out the La Ronge Ice Wolves in 6 games.
The La Ronge Ice Wolves gave the Broncos everything they had in an electric series, took a 2-1 series lead after Game 3 and had a 3-0 lead in Game 4. However, the Humboldt Broncos rallied back to tie the series up 2-2 and never looked back.
Game 6 took place in the Mel Hegland Arena in La Ronge, and was as close as everyone expected throughout the majority of the game.
Cage Newans and Lucas Ceccarelli both scored twice for the Broncos, and Rhett Gibson scored his third goal of the postseason to round out the scoring.
Taylor Webb had a pair of goals for La Ronge, tying the game twice in the second period to take a 2-2 tie into the final frame.
With the Broncos up 4-2 following goals from Newans and Ceccarelli just 17 second apart, Riley Morgan cut the lead back to just one goal 45 seconds later.
Gibson was able to restore the two-goal lead with 7:15 remaining, which was enough for the Broncos to hold on and advance.
Humboldt’s Rayce Ramsay turned aside 30 of 33 for the win.
Meanwhile, Xavier Cannon, who very well could have been the MVP of the game, kept the Ice Wolves close with a handful of highlight reel saves, but in the end, it wasn’t enough, stopping 25 of 30.
The Broncos opponent in the second round is still undetermined.
The Melfort Mustangs and Yorkton Terriers are heading to a deciding Game 7 on Tuesday. If the Mustangs win, they will face the Broncos in the second round. If the Terriers come out victorious, Humboldt will take on the Flin Flon Bombers.
Regardless of the opponent, Game 1 is tentatively scheduled for Friday, April 1st in Humboldt