Broncos Win 5th Straight, Defeat Hounds 5-2.
Photo: Marla Possberg The Humboldt Broncos winning streak is now 5.
Undefeated in the month of February, the Broncos travelled to Wilcox, SK for the 5th meeting of the season against the Notre Dame Hounds, defeating their division rival for the 5th time by a score of 5-2.
It was once again the Spencer Bell show.
The SJHL’s leading goal scorer finished with his 4th hattrick, netting goals 36, 37, and 38 on the year.
The first two came in the opening period and on the powerplay to give the Broncos a 2-0 lead heading into the second period.
The entire 60 minutes was easily the most competitive game between the two clubs this season, mainly in part to an outstanding goaltending battle between Humboldt’s Ben Motew, and Notre Dame’s Johann Tremblay-Kau.
Motew turned aside 38 of 40 shots faced, while Tremblay-Kau stopped 46 of 49.
Hounds’ Captain, Carson Baylis scored the lone goal in the 2nd period off a net front rebound to send a 2-1 Broncos lead into the third.
In the final frame, Bell added his final goal. The 20-year-old MVP candidate now has scored in 14 of his last 15 games and has 18 goals throughout that stretch.
The Hounds pressed for the comeback shortly after. Just 26 second after Bell’s goal, Davis Sato tracked down another rebound and banged home his 13th of the season for a 3-2 score.
With 6:30 left in the game, Sato pounced on a loose puck straddling the goal line and knocked it across to seemingly tie the game at 3-3. However, after a brief ref’s discussion, it was deemed that Sato was in the crease and came into contact with Motew which resulted in the goal being called off due to goaltender interference, restoring the Broncos’ one-goal lead.
Humboldt would then answer with two empty net goals, one from Landon Stromme (7) and the other from Cage Newans (19) to seal a 5-2 victory.
The win was the 30th of the season for the Broncos who now have 64 points, just 4 points shy of 2nd place in the SJHL.
They will return to the ice for 5 straight home games starting on Saturday February 17th against the Kindersley Klippers.