THE BRONCOS STARTED THEIR SOUTHERN ROAD SWING ON A LOSING NOTING FALLING 5-2 IN WEYBURN FRIDAY.
The once red-hot Broncos have cooled somewhat over their past two contests, neither of which has generated any points.
The green and gold’s 5-2 defeat in Weyburn isn’t what the coaching staff was looking for following Wednesday’s home ice loss to LaRonge.
Despite coming up short at Crescent Point Place Friday, assistant coach Mark Cross said they may have deserved a better fate.
“We feel our guys competed hard tonight. In the last two games we have out shot and out chanced the opposition. At some point our execution is going to have to get better. In tonight’s game there were a few defensive mistakes that cost us goals,” Cross said.
The game was knotted at 2-2 after one, Logan Hunter scored his ninth of the season in the opening period, Logan Boulet fired his sixth. Former Bronco and Humboldt product Dawson Atamanchuk opened the scoring for the Wings, Ben Hiltz also beat Jacob Wassermann in the first frame.
The Wings took over from there offensively but Cross still felt they were in it.
“Weyburn scored on their five on three opportunity in the second period. We still felt our guys kept working hard and we had our chances to put the puck in the net, but just didn’t execute,” he said.
Erik Olson was the benefactor of the goal early in the second with two Broncos in the penalty box.
Jordan Kazymyra and Ty Brown capped the Wings scoring in the third.
Connor Lukan and Brayden Camrud each had a pair of assists for the Broncos.
Wassermann finished with 19 saves, reigning Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League goaltender of the week Arik Weersink turned aside 32/34.
The two game trip doesn’t get easier Saturday, the Estevan Bruins host Humboldt. The have scored 104 goals so far this season, that’s 19 more than the next highest scoring team, the Notre Dame Hounds. Cross said they need to regroup and prepare for the high flying club.
“Tomorrow will be a real good test, as Estevan plays a fast paced game. As a team we’re going to remain positive, try and improve our execution and limit our mistakes because they are a team with a lot of offensive skill,” he explained.
