BRONCOS’ SUPER-PEST BRAYDEN CAMRUD SCORED FOUR TIMES IN THE OPENING SERIES VERSUS THE MUSTANGS AND IS READY FOR THE CHALLENGE AHEAD. PHOTO COURTESY MARLA POSSBERG.
The Broncos are clearly happy with their first-round performance versus the Melfort Mustangs but admittedly the work is just beginning.
Second year forward Brayden Camrud scored four times in the five-game ousting of the Mustangs including the lone overtime goal of the series in game four at the Elgar Petersen Arena. The 19-year-old Saskatoon product said taking down the favoured Mustangs was a great feeling.
“It was really exciting, it’s always fun to win. Getting wins at home was fantastic, the crowds were behind us and it was an amazing hockey atmosphere,” Camrud said.
The test gets tougher however in the semi-finals with a rematch of last year’s quarter-final featuring the Nipawin Hawks. Nipawin swept Humboldt in four straight games and beat the Broncos six straight times during the regular season. Camrud said last year’s first-round loss and the half dozen losses during the year where Humboldt was outscored 28-17 means very little.
“I think everybody this year has one goal in mind, that’s to play hard, play for each other, and play to win,” Camrud said.
The Hawks are coming off a five-game first-round win over the Flin Flon Bombers. During the regular season Nipawin claimed their first regular season banner in almost two decades. Camrud said the club can’t take a shift off if they hope to return to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) final for the first time since 2011-12.
“We have to play them hard, we’re going to have to play desperate every shift, almost like we’re down in the series. I think if we play with that mindset and we can do that I think we will be ok,” he said.
Game one is set for Friday at the Centennial Arena in Nipawin, faceoff is 7:30 p.m. Game two will be Saturday at 7:30 p.m. also in Nipawin which is different from last year’s back-and-forth format. Camrud said an upset of the top ranked Hawks would be a special moment for the town, and team.
“It would be amazing, I don’t think there would be a better feeling than putting down the top team,” he said.
The series shifts to the Elgar Petersen Arena on April 3 and 4. Advance tickets are available at the Co-op gas bar and Johnny’s Bistro. The Broncos’ office will be open at 9 a.m. on Monday. Season ticket holders have until 12 p.m. on game day to claim their seats.