Written by: Rory McGouran
A two game road series for the Broncos ended in a split decision this past weekend.
The Humbodlt Broncos travelled to Melville to take on the Millionaires on Friday, before wrapping up their season series with the Mustangs in Melfort on Saturday.
Cashing in at The Bank
The Melville Millionaires welcomed the Broncos, who were on a four-game wining streak at the time, into ‘The Bank’ on Friday night, where the green and gold flexed their January muscles on route to a 6-3 victory.
The Broncos took control of the game just 25 second into the first period with Cage Newans’ 15th goal of the season.
From there on out, their balanced offensive attack proved to be too much, finding goals from five other different scores.
Maddox Amaral added his 9th in the first period.
Xavier Roy (6), Carsten Kayter (4), Tim Kim (9), and Connor Casparie (3) all found the back of the net in the second period.
Melville’s only production came on the powerplay, with the Broncos’ PK surrendering three goals on five times shorthanded.
Jaxon Martens scored twice, while Sam Schofield scored the lone goal in the third period.
Jared Picklyk improved his record to 3-1-0 with a 22-save performance in net for the Bronco’s victory.
The Horses Split their Series
Now riding a 5-game winning streak, the Broncos switched their focus to the Mustangs at the Northern Lights Palace in Melfort on Saturday.
Although a very competitive game, a few bounces and breakdowns led to the Mustangs capitalizing and handing the Broncos a 4-1 loss.
In the first period, the Broncos seemed to be the more engaged team, at one point outshooting the Mustangs 15-4, but that wasn’t the way the story unfolded.
Ben Tkatchuk had a puck bounce off his shin pad and end up in the back of the net for a 1-0 lead. Clarke Huxley located a loose puck at the side of the net and banged it home for a 2-0 lead. Finally, Sam Marburg took a costly 5-minute-major for checking from behind, and Zac Somers scored with 17 seconds left for a 3-0 Mustangs lead to wrap up the opening frame.
The final two periods were very balanced.
The Broncos won the second period and found their only goal of the game off the stick of Lucas Ceccarelli and his 9th of the season.
After that, Mustangs netminder, James Venne was the difference maker, stopping 37 of 38 shots, as the Broncos outshot the Mustangs 38-27. Clarke Huxley added his second goal of the game in the third period for the 4-1 final.
This game wrapped up the 6-game series between the two clubs, where both finished with an identical 3-2-1 record.
Over the course of January, the Broncos finished with a 7-3 record.
There will be no games for the Broncos until next weekend as the SJHL is heading to Winnipeg, MB for the SJHL MJHL Showcase taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Broncos will have 11 players representing as a part of the SJHL teams.