Humboldt Broncos

Six combined powerplay goals narrated the story of the Battlefords North Stars 5-4 victory over the Humboldt Broncos on Friday night.

With just three points separating the two Nutrien Division rivals, the two clubs embarked on the front half of a home-and-home weekend set in the Battlefords on Friday night.

The pair had split their previous two games back in October with identical 2-1 shootout victories for the visiting teams, setting the scene of a closely contested series.

Friday, January 12

In the third meeting of the season between the SJHL’s two horses, the Humboldt Broncos were unable to overcome the Melfort Mustangs, losing 5-2 on Friday night.

There was certainly no holiday hangover for Humboldt.

The Broncos were tasked with a healthy dose of travel in the new year with back-to-back road games to open the 2024 stretch to the playoffs.

Starting with Saskatchewan’s east in the Parkland region on Friday night, the Broncos took care of business, taming the Yorkton Terriers in a 3-1 victory. The following night they hopped back on the bus to the West Central Events Centre defeating their division rival, the Kindersley Klippers, 6-4.

The Humboldt Broncos picked up a pair on their northern swing.

In the second game of a three-game in three-day northern road stretch, the Broncos once again defeated the La Ronge Ice Wolves, picking up a 5-2 victory on Friday night in the Mel Hegland Uniplex.

For the second straight game, the Broncos scored the all-important first goal.

Ben Costantino, who was inactive in the opening game of the road trip, slotted back in the lineup and found the back of the net for his 6th of the season to give the Broncos a 1-0 lead.

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. 

The Humboldt Broncos regulation undefeated streak came to an end at an impressive 16 games on Friday night, as they lost 5-4 to the Kindersley Klippers. 

A depleted lineup for the Broncos with 8 regulars inactive for Friday night’s contest at the West Central Events Centre presented a seriously tough test, especially against the division rival Klippers who had won two of their last three games. 

The Humboldt Broncos were able to remain undefeated in regulation, although a controversial no-goal call in overtime left fans frustrated and prevented the Broncos from securing victory in a 3-2 loss to the Estevan Bruins on Wednesday night.

For the Humboldt Broncos, it was a tale of two identical games with the final act flipped in this weekend’s twin trials with the Battlefords North Stars. Both games resulted in a 1-all tie at the end of regulation, a thrilling bout of 3 on three overtime, and shootout to decide the victor. 

In Friday’s opener, the only two goals of the game were scored just under four minutes apart in the second frame.  

The Humboldt Broncos returned to the win column with a convincing victory over the Yorkton Terriers on Tuesday night. 

In their third road game of the season, the Broncos corralled into Westland Insurance Arena and tamed the Yorkton Terriers in all areas of the game, scoring two shorthanded goals, two powerplay goals, and three even strength to pick up a 7-2 win. 

The Humboldt Broncos split the home and home matchup against the Nipawin Hawks this weekend, and in doing so, endured their first loss of the season.  

Friday night’s matchup in Nipawin was certainly their toughest test of the season, but the Broncos found a way to secure a passing grade and remained undefeated with a 3-2 victory over the Hawks.