You win some, you lose some.
The Humboldt Broncos split their two away games this week, coming away from their western road trip with a loss to the Kindersley Klippers and a win over the Battlefords North Stars.
The Broncos took on the Klippers first, on February 8.
It was Kindersley who scored first and more often in that contest. They got their first goal at 5:45 of the first period, and a second goal on a power play at 2:39 of the second period. Former Humboldt Bronco Spencer Braaten got the assist on that goal.
The Klippers scored once more to make it a 3-0 game at 8:14 of the second.
Humboldt finally got on the scoreboard with a goal by Matt Glowa, assisted by Troy Gasper and Nathan Hudema, at 12:37 of the second.
But Kindersley took that goal in stride. The Klippers got their fourth point at 13:37, scored by Braaten, and their fifth and final at 16:47, assisted by Braaten.
The Broncos did get another point - Glowa scored on a power play 30 seconds into the third, assisted by Josh Roach and Kameren Ballas - but it was too little, too late.
Final score: 5-2 Kindersley.
Penalties were plentiful throughout the game. The Broncos' first penalty of the game was to Gabe Minville for fighting at 17:28 of the first period. He dropped gloves with Zane Morin of Kindersley. Both got five for fighting.
Another fight broke out at 11:21 of the third period. Chase Wharton of the Broncos got five minutes for fighting and a game misconduct, while Taylor Wasden of Kindersley got two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct, five minutes for fighting and a game misconduct.
Finally, a third fight occurred at 12:35 of the third, between Bronco Adam Antkowiak and Klipper Johnathon Sonntag.
The Broncos were one for seven on the power play in the game, while the Klippers were one for three.
The Broncos out-shot the Klippers 38 to 35.
The three stars of the game were all Klippers. Braaten was named the second star.
The next night, February 9, the Broncos headed over to North Battleford to take on the North Stars.
The Stars scored first, at 2:14 of the first period, but the Broncos got two quick goals to tie the game, then take the lead. Ward Szucki got both points, the first at 4:28, assisted by Adam Antkowiak, and the second at 4:48, assisted by Chase Wharton.
The Stars came back to tie the game at 4:42 of the second, but Bronco Taylor Johnson took the lead back for his team with a goal at 11:17, assisted by Kameren Ballas.
In the third, the Stars battled hard to tie things up again, even pulling their goalie near the end of the third to try and even the score.
However, all that resulted was another Humboldt point. Szucki got his hat-trick with an empty-net, power play point at 19:30.
Final score: 4-2 Humboldt.
Penalties were again plentiful in this game, though no fights broke out. Roughing, interference, elbowing, slashing and tripping calls were all made. Brett Pisio of the Broncos got two roughing penalties and a 10-minute misconduct at 12:15 of the third period. Brody Luhning of the Stars also received a 10-minute misconduct and a two-minute penalty for tripping at 14:53 of the third.
The Broncos were one for five on the power play, while the Stars were zero for six.
The three stars of the game included Humboldt's Szucki and goaltender Andrew Bodnarchuk.
The Stars out-shot the Broncos 41 to 40.
