Months of waiting is finally over as the Humboldt Broncos are set to begin the 2024-25 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) regular season on Saturday when they host the Notre Dame Hounds.
After a season that ended in heartbreaking fashion with an overtime loss in Game 7 to the eventual league champion Melfort Mustangs, the green and gold will be looking to take the next step in the postseason.
With the Broncos ready to embark on a brand-new campaign, there are plenty of changes to the team.
The most notable change will be behind the bench, with Humboldt’s own and former Bronco player Brayden Klimosko taking over for Scott Barney who stepped down to become the bench boss with the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Klimosko returns home with a long list of accolades including a pair of SJHL titles and was named SJHL Coach of the Year on three occasions during his run with the Battlefords North Stars. Carter Hansen will return to the Broncos as the team’s assistant coach.
In the crease, the Broncos have added experience in the form of 20-year-old Edouard Gauthier. The 20-year-old comes to Humboldt with major junior hockey experience after spending last season with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. 19-year-old Ty Matonovich is the other goalie on Humboldt’s roster.
Despite the loss of eight of their top ten-point producers from last season, the Broncos will have a strong crop of returning veterans. Maddox Armaral is back after posting 40 points (16G-24A) last season. He’ll be joined by Conner Miller, Marik Mamic, Landen Stromme, Jacob Strizzi, Boris Kofman and Jeter Korte.
The Broncos added some veteran experience with the acquisition of 20-year-old forward Gabriel Filion from the Estevan Bruins. He had 23 points (9G-14A) with the Bruins last season. During the preseason, the Montreal product led the Broncos with six points (3G-3A).
On the blueline, the green and gold will have plenty of size led by 6’4 Lloydminster product, Oakley McIlwain. During the preseason, McIlwain matched his point total from the 2023-24 regular season with five points. Also returning to Humboldt from last season are Ryder Knutson and Tristan Serrao. The Broncos added a veteran presence to their backend with the acquisition of 20-year-old Tre Fouquette from the Nipawin Hawks. Last season, Fouquette split his year with Nipawin and the Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL). He had 7 points (1G-6A) in 21 games with the Hawks.