Big laughs and money in store Saturday

The Broncos are preparing for back-to-back home dates with the Weyburn Red Wings this weekend at the Elgar Petersen Arena as the club continues to push for the playoffs.

Despite being a possible four points in the standings the green and gold will also have some fun with the fans. The Broncos will hold their annual shoot-out auction Friday night after the game, Saturday the team hold the event. Broncos captain Logan Schatz is getting set for his fourth attempt to try and be victorious. He said the players don’t take the competition half-heartedly.

“We take it seriously, people are spending lots of money on us so we don’t want to let them down, but at the same time you have to have fun. There is bragging rights on the line in the dressing room and you never want to be one of the first ones out,” Schatz said.

The last three years all the bragging rights have gone to the team’s head coach. Ryan Smith was victorious three seasons ago; Darcy Haugan has claimed the title in both his seasons. Schatz joked the coaches must have some inside information.

“With those two winning it the past three years I have my suspicions that they have fixed it from the start of each shoot out,” Schatz laughed.

Each player and coaches are auctioned off to the highest bidder; three different save percentage categories are also bid on for both goalies. The winnings are split accordingly for the top three shooters and the six different goalie numbers. Last year’s winner took home several thousand dollars. The fundraiser nets about $7,000 for the club. Schatz said a number of his teammates could win but the veteran looked to a red-hot rookie that could fly under the radar.

“There a couple of guys I think that could be a dark horse but I’m going with Logan Hunter, he has a great shot and he knows how to use it,” he said.

Face-off is 7:30 p.m. both nights.