It’s been a tough month of December for the Humboldt Broncos.
Written by: Rory McGouran
A fourth consecutive loss and one game remaining to try and snap it before the holiday break was not the way anyone anticipated the Humboldt Broncos closing out the calendar year, but following a 3-2 loss to the Estevan Bruins on Friday, it’s the hand they dealt themselves.
For the fourth consecutive time, Humboldt gave up the game’s opening goal and started from behind the eight ball. Kent Moors, who had a touch on all three Bruins’ goals, scored his 11th on the powerplay, then set up Kaelen Whittingham for a shorthanded goal and a 2-0 Bruins lead heading into the second period.
There were definitely Humboldt’ positives that you need to reflect on when trying to locate your mental stride through a slump. They were able to fight back and tie the game in the middle frame, while snapping a powerplay goalless drought that amounted to 17 consecutive man-advantages without a goal. Connor Miller’s ninth of the year helped do just that, while Michael Dowdall followed home his second of the season for a 2-2 tie.
One of the glaring needs through this gulley of losses is the Broncos are seemingly never the team that’s able to score the big goal on any given night. Once again, shortly following their game-tying-goal, a defensive breakdown led to Ewan Rennie deflecting home his seventh of the season which would stand as the game winner.
The third period had more good pushes for Humboldt, but to no avail. Zach Shaughnessy was making his SJHL debut for the Bruins and turned aside 32 of 34 shots including 12 of 12 in the third period for his first career win.
Ty Matonovich got the start for Humboldt and was valiant in a loss that only had two goals of offensive support, stopping 37 of 40.
It’s often said that winning solves everything, and although they can only win one before we head into 2025, it would surely be better than thinking about a five-game losing streak throughout the holidays.
The Broncos and Bruins will wrap up the calendar year with the rematch tonight.
The Broncos have not won in Estevan in over three years.
