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One of the top rivalries in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) is back on the ice tonight as the Humboldt Broncos head to Melfort to meet the Mustangs.
The teams will finish off their season series tomorrow in Humboldt.
Melfort is the lone SJHL squad the Broncos have been unable to register a victory against this season. The Mustangs swept the previous home-and-home set back in December.
With a playoff spot already secured, the Mustangs are trying to close the top seed in the SJHL, with an eight-point lead over the Flin Flon Bombers heading into the weekend.
For Humboldt, the playoff pursuit continues, entering the weekend, Humboldt is one point back of the Melville Millionaires for 5th place in the SJHL. The Broncos also hold a one-point lead over the Battlefords North Stars.
The injury bug continues to hit the Broncos, already forced to dress eleven forwards and seven defenceman due to injuries to Connor Miller, Jeter Korte, and Michael Dowdall, Humboldt will be without their veteran 20-year-old goaltender Dazza Mitchell.
Mitchell was injured during last Saturday’s win against the Battleford North Stars after being involved in a collision with Battlefords Linken Fisher. Mitchell missed the final two periods and didn’t play against Yorkton on Monday.
Brady Holtvogt will get the start tonight. The last time the Humboldt product started two games in a row for the Broncos was back on November 2 & 9 in a pair of matchups against Melville.
Backing up Holtvogt tonight will be another local hockey product Wyatt Fleischhacker. Selected in last year’s SJHL 2008 draft in the 5th round, Fleischhacker has spent this season with the Tisdale Trojans of the Sask U18 AAA with a 11-4 record 2.73 GAA and a 911 SV%.
Coverage for tonight’s game begins at 7:15 on Bolt FM, with the opening faceoff at 7:30.
Tomorrow in Humboldt, the game gets underway at 7.