It was an unsuccessful week for the Humboldt Broncos as they hit the road for three games between September 27 and October 1.
The team failed to come up with a win in any of their games, though two came within one point.
The first game of their away series was played September 27 in front of 1,002 fans at Spectra Place in Estevan.
The Broncos scored first in their contest against the Estevan Bruins, who have been going strong early in this season.
Brett Pinder got the first goal of the night at 7:58 of the first period, assisted by Mathew Backhouse and Adam Antkowiak.
But the Bruins scored three back-to-back goals on Bronco goalie Matt Hrynkiw at 12:23, 14:00 and 14:33 to quickly make it a 3-1 game.
Humboldt bounced back with a goal at 16:12 of the first, scored by Riley Kieser and assisted by Ryan Marshall. They then tied the game at three with a goal at the three-minute mark of the second period. Matt Glowa and Neil Landry were responsible for that goal.
But Estevan took the lead again with a goal at 6:06 of the second, and followed up with another goal at 3:11 of the third to make it a 5-3 game.
The Broncos brought the score within one with a goal by Logan Sproule, assisted by Backhouse, at 16:41 of the third, but Estevan added a sixth point at 17:24 to strengthen their lead.
Landry got another point for the Broncos at 18:47, assisted by Robbie Ciolfi and Antkowiak, but Humboldt was unable to tie it up again.
Final score: 6-5 Estevan, though the Broncos out-shot the Bruins 36-29.
Penalties were fewer in the contest, though Humboldt's Antkowiak was given a two-minute minor and a 10-minute misconduct for a blow to the head at 18:15 of the first period.
A fight also broke out at 12:47 of the second between Bronco Josh Roach and Bruin Michael Hengen. Both got five for fighting .
Neither team was able to score on the power play.
It was the same story for the Broncos the next night, when they faced the Weyburn Red Wings in front of 709 fans at Crescent Point Place. Though given 12 power plays throughout the game, Humboldt was unable to capitalize on any of them.
The Wings scored first, netting two power play goals in the 14th minute of the first period, both scored by the same three-man line - Coltyn Sanderson, Jesse Ross and Keegan Bruce.
The Broncos didn't get on the scoreboard until the second period, when Josh Roach scored at 1:06, assisted by Matt Glowa.
Humboldt tied the game at two with a goal at 6:16 of the third period, scored by Ryan Marshall with the assist going to Andrew Herle.
However, Weyburn got up by another point at 16:30, then got an empty-netter at 19:32 to ensure their 4-2 win.
Penalties abounded in this contest. Humboldt earned 17 over three periods, and Weyburn, 20.
Among the most serious for Humboldt occurred in the second period, when Robbie Ciolfi got a two-minute minor and a 10-minute misconduct for a blow to the head at 14:34. Trent Hermany of the Red Wings got the same two penalties at 19:13 of the second.
Two game misconducts were also split between the two teams. Bronco Mathew Backhouse got one at 19:13 of the second, along with two minutes for checking from behind.
Wing Jack Kennelly got a game misconduct and two minutes for a blow to the head at 18:34 of the first period.
Each team also got to take a penalty shot at different points in the game.
The Bruins got one in the first period at 16:18, but shooter Sam Williams failed to score.
Then the Broncos got to take one in the third period, at 13:40, but shooter Taylor Johnson was likewise unable to score.
The Broncos out-shot the Wings 26 to 19, but went zero for 12 on the power play, while Weyburn was two for nine.
Humboldt then travelled to Nipawin for their final game of the week on October 1.
Ranked the top in the league's power rankings, while the Broncos sit in sixth place as they work out the kinks, the Hawks lived up to their reputation.
Though Humboldt scored first, at 1:18 of the first period - Robbie Ciolfi off of Neil Landry and Cody Pettapiece - Nipawin was able to net three unanswered goals in a row on Bronco netminder Matt Hrynkiw early in the second period to take a commanding lead.
Humboldt managed to score their second point of the night at 10:16, thanks to Ciolfi, Landry and Andrew Johnston, but Nipawin managed another point, this time on the power play at 11:41 to make it a 4-2 game.
In the third, though Humboldt had switched their goalie to Tyler Marble, the Hawks added to their lead with a goal at 14:49. However, the Broncos seemed to get their power play team together, and scored twice on the PP before the end of the game. The first goal was at 16:36, scored by Taylor Johnson, with assists to Mathew Backhouse and Johnston.
The second came at 18:51, scored by Andrew Herle, with assists to Josh Roach and Backhouse.
But it wasn't enough. The Hawks won by a narrow 5-4 margin.
Penalties were minimal in this game, especially compared to the Broncos' game in Weyburn. The Broncos were penalized just six times, and the Hawks, only eight.
The most serious penalties were again those for blows to the head. Bronco Johnston got two minutes for giving a blow to the head, along with a 10-minute misconduct at 1:38 of the second, and Grant Jensen of the Hawks got the same two penalties at 15:18 of the third.
The Broncos did better on the power play at Centennial Arena in Nipawin, scoring twice out of five opportunities. The Hawks were one for three on the PP.
A total of 605 people at the arena in Nipawin saw the first Bronco in a week named as one of three stars of the game: Ciolfi was listed as the second star of the game.
At the end of the week, however, Mathew Backhouse was named the SJHL defenseman of the week.
After a week away, the Broncos will have two home games this week, hosting Kindersley on October 5 and Battleford on October 7.
