Written by: Rory McGouran
An entertaining game in Wilcox nearly got away from the Humbodlt Broncos early on Tuesday night, but a second period outburst changed the game, leading to a 5-4 overtime comeback victory over the Notre Dame Hounds.
The game did not start pretty for Humboldt. Wild bounces and small mistakes in the defensive zone led to back-to-back Hounds’ goals just 3:56 into the first period off the sticks of Antoine St. Onge and Carson Baylis.
Once again it was a strong start for the Hounds in the second period.
Taking a 2-0 lead into the middle frame, they stretched it even wider when St. Onge scored his second of the game on the power play for a 3-0 lead. The third goal led to Broncos’ Head Coach, Scott Barney changing goaltenders, pulling Ben Motew in favour for Jared Picklyk. Motew allowed 3 goals on 16 shots.
Humbodlt had a quick answer, scoring just 19 seconds later, and slowly started to slant the pace of the game in their favour. Jacob Boucher added his 16th of the season to make it 3-1. The Hound answered quickly back on the lone mistake Picklyk would make, coughing the puck up behind his net to Kyle Kalamaras who regained the three-goal lead.
Midway through the second period, the Broncos found a way to immediately force themselves back in the game with two goals just 12 seconds apart. Cage Newans scored on a 4-on-3 powerplay for his 18th of the year, before Daylan Weigel’s (8) individual effort off the ensuing faceoff brought the Broncos back within one goal.
With just 1:12 left in the second frame, Humboldt completed the comeback, tying the game 4-4 off a low, glove side wrist shot by Maddox Amaral for his 10th goal of the season and third point of the period.
The third period was tight checking, with no team able to break the dead lock, and for just the 6th time of the season the Broncos were heading to overtime.
In the extra frame, Lucas Ceccarelli threw a puck towards the net which redirected off the goalies stick, right into the body of a crashing Noah Barlage (3) who banked the puck in for the game wining goal.
The victory, which marks the 4th in a row and the 13th in the last 16 games for Humboldt, leapfrogged them back into second place of the SJHL standings and officially clinched a playoff spot.
Jared Picklyk who came in relief, stopped 18 of 19 for his 5th win of the season.