A solid set of weekend victories for the Humboldt Broncos to open up the regular season.
Brayden Klimosko picked up his 200th career victory and secured his first as his hometown’s head coach in the Humboldt Broncos’ season opening 6-3 victory over the Notre Dame Hounds.
Veteran leadership helped propel the Broncos’ offence as a crowd of 1000 strong welcomed regular season hockey back to the Elgar Petersen Arena. Maddox Amaral, Gabriel Filion, and Boris Kofman all finished with 3 points on the night.
Michael Dowdall picked up his first career goal, while Kye Benoche and Tre Fouquette secured their first career point as a Humboldt Bronco.
The Broncos scored the first three goals of the game (Filion, Dowdall, Amaral) to open a 3-0 lead until late in the first period when Hounds’ rookie, Ian Bours fired home his first of two goals.
Season opening structural nerves seemed to be evident on both sides throughout as mistakes led to a high percentage of the nine combined goals.
The Hounds crawled back to within one in the second period with Neka Jean’s first career goal. The Broncos, however, would never let up the equalizer.
2nd year Bronco, Connor Miller scored his first of the season to round out the scoring. It was the second Broncos’ powerplay goal of the night as they finished with a 25% success rate, while their penalty kill went 2/3.
Edouard Gauthier picked up his first career SJHL win stopping 22 of 25 in net for the green and gold.
On Sunday’s return visit to Wilcox, the Broncos took control early and never let up.
Tre Fouquette open the scoring for the Broncos near the 6-minute mark of the opening frame.
Hudson Kerr scored the lone Hounds goal just after the halfway point of the 1st period, but after that it was all Humboldt. Returning D-man Oakley McIlwain netted his first of the season. Newcomers showed their skill as Teigan Semchyshen netted his first, while Kyle Benoche and Tre Fouquette scored a pair each in the game.
Jacob Strizzi scored on the power play which went 3 for 10 on the night. Eduoard Gauthier had another standout night, turning aside 29 of 30 shots.
The Broncos are back on the ice this Friday, September 27 when they greet the Yorkton Terriers at the EPA. Game time is 7 pm on 107.5 Bolt FM.
- with content from Discover Humboldt