BHP Recap: Broncos Relinquish 3rd place with 7-4 defeat to North Stars
Animosity boiled over at the end, resulting in two fights. The Humboldt Broncos still control their own destiny to finish atop the Nutrien Division, however, they made it a slightly harder journey after a 7-4 defeat to the Battlefords North Stars on Saturday night.
This marked the 6th and final game of the season series between the two division rivals, and with the Broncos taking a 6-4 victory on Friday, a win would have put them one point away from a division title.
Instead, the first period was slanted in the North Stars favour thanks to three straight Battleford’s powerplays, resulting in two goals.
The Broncos may not have agreed with the calls, but it was clear they let the frustration get to them. This being a lesson the SJHL’s second youngest team will need to learn from as they embark into the final three games of the regular season and into the playoffs.
This was just the sixth time this season the Broncos have trailed after the first period in 53 games.
The North Stars scored their only 5-on-5 goal of the game to extend the lead to 3-0 as Easton Rask notched his first of the season.
Kian Bell 4-on-4, and Brad Blake on the powerplay resulted in two more goals, creating a daunting 5-0 lead for the North Stars, their largest of any moment in the entire season series.
Spencer Bell scored his league leading 43rd tipping in a point shot in the second, and Connor Thue hammered a one-timer 17 seconds into the third period to give the Broncos life.
However, a shorthanded goal by Kian Bell took away any wind in the Broncos sails.
Cage Newans added back-to-back goals to bring the Broncos once again within two goals. However, the North Stars found the empty net and sealed a 7-4 victory.
A pair of fights occurred in the final minute with Marik Mamic, in his first SJHL fight, landing a beautiful right hand knocking down North Star’s Riley Girod. Tristan Serrao also tangled with Colton Getzlaff.
The North Stars leapfrogged the Broncos back into third place.
The Broncos still control their own destiny with three games remaining. If they win all three, they will end up with 78 points. The most the North Stars can end up with is 77.
The Broncos will look to get back in the win column when they travel to Wilcox to wrap up their season series with the Notre Dame Hounds.