Yet again, the Humboldt Broncos and the Melfort Mustangs back-to-back weekend games resulted in a series split between the leagues two horses. Over the past six seasons, there has been no other rivalry between any two SJHL teams that's been as evenly matched as the two-horse race between the Broncos and the Mustangs. Eighteen renditions of the race have been run between the two over the last six years and following Saturday's five four loss to the Mustangs it's an even 9/9 split in victories for each club.
On Friday night, the Broncos took the opening lead out of the starting gates with a goal from Dylan Nazareth, his second of the season, for a 1-0 lead. in the second period, Chase Friedt-Mohr used his patented power play one timer to knot the game up at 1-all. Broncos rookie, Ryder Knutson, fired a seeing eye point shot 2 minutes later for his first career SJHL goal to regain the lead. That lead was short lived as just 13 seconds later, off the ensuing faceoff, Aidyn Hutchinson fired his eighth of the season over the glove of Aiden Fisher.
Before the second period expired, the Broncos once again regained their lead with Landon Stromme’s 8th of the season. The Broncos penalty kill came into play in the third, as Fischer and the penalty kill units were exceptional, battling with immense heart to kill all six-and-a-half minutes.
Once back at even strength, Matthew Van Blaricom added breathing room giving the Broncos their first two goal lead to the game on a beautiful wrap around. Marik Mamic added the empty netter to wrap up scoring.
On Saturday night, the rivalry renewed with the same intensity in a back and forth freewheeling affair that resulted in a 5-4 Mustangs victory.
The Broncos opened the scoring on a beautiful tic tac toe passing play that ended up on, and quickly off, the stick of Pat Lanthier for his third goal of the season. The Mustangs countered with two straight of their own to take a 2-1 lead with goals from Logan Belton and Nolan Henderson.
Before the first period expired, Matthew Van Blaricom, who finished with 4 points on the night, fired home his 17th of the season (3rd place in the SJHL) to send a 2-2 tie into the second.
The second period shifted to a strict defensive style of game. No goals were scored while the Broncos outshot the Mustangs 10-7.
The narrative completely changed once again in the third with 5 more combined goals, 4 of which were scored on special teams.
The Broncos regained their one-goal lead on the powerplay with a Cage Newans one-timer. This was the captain’s 10th goal of the season and his 8th on the man advantage.
Just two minutes later, Melfort’s captain struck back. Leith Olafson sent a point shot through a screen and past Ben Motew for his second of the year.
On a following Broncos’ powerplay, Travis Bryson was left all alone in front of the Mustangs’ crease where he took a behind the net feed from Spencer Bell to put the Broncos up 4-3 with just 6:30 remaining in the game.
A Broncos powerplay late in the third resulted in a stunning shorthanded Mustangs goal off the stick of David Coyle. With 1:39 remaining, a tripping penalty against Humboldt gave the Mustangs their final power play and their final goal to seal the win.
The Broncos will have a few days between games before returning on a northern road trip for three games in three days in La Ronge and Flin Flon.
- with content from Discover Humboldt staff.
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