Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League

BHP Recap: Broncos Move into 3rd Place with 6-4 victory over North Stars

Photo: Marla Possberg Photography

The Humboldt Broncos have leapfrogged the Battlefords North Stars into 3rd place in the SJHL standings, picking up their 4th straight win while handing Battlefords their 6th straight loss in a 6-4 victory on Friday night.

With the Nutrien Division title still up for grabs, the Broncos displayed a strong 52 minutes, building a large enough lead to stave off a thrilling comeback effort from the North Stars.

Spencer Bell scored his league leading 42nd goal of the season to open the scoring 1-0. This was Bell’s 9th time this season he’s scored the game’s opening goal.

Battlefords tied the game in the second period with their captain, Tanner Gold, snapping a right wing shot, beating the blocker of Ben Motew for his 11th of the year.

The Broncos deployed impressive response shifts following the game tying goal that was filled with offensive pressure over the next four minutes.

Jacob Strizzi regained the Broncos’ lead off a net front rebound from his own original shot that hit the post. Then just 1:40 later, Landon Stromme created a rebound off the far pad of North Stars’ Netminder Matthew MacArthur for Brayden Skogstad to bang home for his 10th of the year.

In the beginning of the third period, Humboldt kept rolling.

Cage Newans set a new personal career-high for goals in a season with his 21st of the season and a 4-1 lead.

The offense continued to shine, as on the Broncos 3rd powerplay of the game, Maddox Amaral showed exceptional vison finding Strizzi wide open at the side of the net for his second of the game and a 5-1 lead.

With the game looking like it was a wrap, the Battlefords Norths Stars showed why they are never to let off the hook, as the highest-scoring third period team made for a thrilling comeback effort.

Kian Bell, the SJHL’s leading point getter was given too much space in front of the net and cut the lead to 5-2.

Humboldt took penalty shortly after and with the Battlefords net empty to create a 6-4 attack, Ben Portner found the back of the net for a 5-3 score.

Two minutes later, the North Stars pulled their goalie again, and Josh Medernach bounced a puck through a maze of bodies off the post and in, to lift the North Stars within one goal.

The Broncos were in clear desperation mode. However, an alert and smart play by Matthew Van Blaricom carried the puck out of the zone. He didn’t rush to shoot for the back of the net, instead set up Marik Mamic who had a much clearer lane, resulting in his 12th of the year and a 6-4 victory.

Ben Motew picked up his third straight win and 24th of the season stopping 27 of 31.

Both teams powerplays were 1/3 on the night.

The Broncos now have complete control of their destiny for a division title.

They sit one point up on Battlefords with also an extra game in hand.

The two teams will wrap up their season series on Saturday back home in Humboldt.