BHP Recap: What a Weekend. Broncos Beat Bruins, Entertain in Shootout/Skills Comp
The personalities came out in the annual Shootout Skills Competition.
Photo- Marla Possberg Written by: Rory McGouran
The Humboldt Broncos put on a show for their fans this weekend.
It was a jam packed two days at the Elgar Petersen Arena featuring two tough tests against the Estevan Bruins. Following the game on Friday the team held their annual player/staff shootout auction. Then the players got to showcase their personalities and creative skills at the Shootout and Skills Competition Saturday Night.
Winning always makes everything better, and that’s exactly what the Broncos gave their fans on both nights defeating the Bruins 5-4 on Friday, with an encore 4-1 win on Saturday.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
The Broncos jumped out of the gates on Friday night and took over the game in the first two periods, building a 5-1 lead midway through the second period.
Spencer Bell was the bell cow, picking up his first hattrick as a Bronco with his 7th, 8th, and 9th goal of the season. Matthew Van Blaricom scored a highlight of the year goal going between the legs with a puck that careened of the back wall for his 9th of the year, and the Captain, Ethan Zielke notched his 14th of the season on the powerplay to complete the Broncos offence.
In the second half of the game, Humboldt let their guard down a bit and the Bruins capitalized, scoring three straight goals to create a tense finish to the game. However, the Broncos bared down and held on for the 5-4 victory.
Jared Picklyk secured his 6th victory of the season in net stopping 40 of 44 shots.
Following the victory on Friday night, fans packed into the lobby of the EPA to bid of their favourite Broncos for the shootout auction and Skills competition that would commence the following night.
SATURDAY’s SHOWCASE
Saturday night marked the fifth and final game of the season between the Broncos and the Bruins, with each team taking two of the previous four.
It was a dominate performance for the Broncos, winning their 6th straight game in a 4-1 victory.
The stars of this game were the Broncos penalty killers. The green and gold were doused with penalty calls, with one stretch resulting in five straight minor penalties in a seven-minute span, some justifiable, and some the crowd clearly did not agree with.
The PK held strong throughout that stretch, going a perfect 7/7 while holding the Bruins to just 14 shots in the first two periods. In the end the Broncos killed off all 9 Bruins’ powerplays.
The offence was provided in all facets.
Ben Kotylak scored shorthanded for his 14th of the year (3rd shorthanded), Tim Kim (12) added a powerplay goal for a 2-0 lead, Matthew Van Blaricom netted his 10th even strength, and Lucas Ceccarelli capped the scoring in the empty net for his 10th.
Ben Motew was back in net and nearly secured the shutout, stopping 24 of 25. The Bruins scored with 36 seconds left in the game to break the shutout.
The win improved the Broncos’ record to 33-12-1-0 where they sit in second place in the SJHL.
PLAYER/STAFF SHOOTOUT AND SKILLS COMPETITION
Always an entertaining event for the families, fans, and the players, the Broncos held their annual Shootout and Skills Competition.
Here are the results:
Shootout
1st – Jacob Boucher
2nd – Sam Marburg
3rd – Tim Kim
Fastest Skater/Lap
Ben Kotylak – 13.20 seconds
Accuracy Shootout
Head Coach Scott Barney – 2/4 Targets in 20 seconds
Hardest Shot
Quinn Myles – 94 MPH
The Humboldt Broncos have one day off and will be back on the ice at the EPA on Family Day Monday, with a matinee game at 3pm against the Kindersley Klippers.
Admission will be free for all to attend.