After a snowstorm cancelled their last home game of 2010 on December 14, the Humboldt Broncos headed out to face the Yorkton Terriers and the Melville Millionaires in their final match-ups before the Christmas break.
Things did not go so well for Humboldt in Yorkton on December 17. Despite out-shooting the Terriers 38 to 28 over three periods, the Broncos fell 4-2 at the final buzzer.
Bronco Justin Buzzeo started the scoring with a power play goal at 7:40 of the first period. Kameren Ballas and Jeremy Boyer got the helpers on that goal.
The Terriers were able to get the puck past Bronco goaltender Andrew Bodnarchuk just over a minute later to tie it up, then took a 2-1 lead with a goal at 10:41.
Neither team was able to score in the second period, but in the third, Yorkton added to their lead with a third goal at 6:31.
Bronco Boyer brought Humboldt within one of a tie with a power play goal at 13:17, assisted by Greg Ferguson and Brett Pisio, but an empty-netter for Yorkton had the game ending with the Terriers up 4-2.
Penalties were minimal in the game where the Broncos went two for three on the power play, while the Terriers were zero for four.
Just one Bronco was named among the game's three stars - Boyer was the third star of the night.
The next night in Melville, the Broncos were able to regroup and leave the rink with a victory under their belt.
Though the Millionaires scored first, just four minutes into the first period, the Broncos capitalized on a power play to tie the game at one at 7:21. Boyer got the point, assisted by Josh Roach and Buzzeo.
Melville scored again at the 15-minute mark - a power play point of their own - to take a 2-1 lead.
However, the Broncos were able to tie the game at two with a goal by Ward Szucki, assisted by Taylor Johnson, at 8:04 of the second period.
In the third, the Broncos found some new energy, it seems, and were able to score three times in that 20 minutes of play.
They took the lead with a point by Matt Glowa, assisted by Ballas and Troy Gasper, at 8:04 of the third, then got an insurance goal at 10:14, thanks to Boyer, off Szucki.
Finally, Buzzeo, assisted by Roach, got an empty-netter at 19:10 to put the nail in the Mils' coffin.
It was after that final point that a fight broke out. With just three seconds left in play, Bronco Johnson dropped gloves with Derek Wasylyshen of the Mils.
Both got five minutes for fighting. Johnson got an additional two minutes for roughing, and Wasylyshen a game misconduct.
The fight didn't change the outcome of the game, however.
The final score was 5-2 for Humboldt.
The Broncos out-shot the Miles 36 to 33 and went one for four on the power play, while the Mils were one for five.
Two Broncos were listed among the three game stars - Boyer was named first star and Szucki, second.
