The Humboldt Broncos played back-to-back home games this weekend, but they didn't leave enough in the tank for the second game.
On November 19, the Broncos hosted the Estevan Bruins, the number two team in the south, in what promised to be an exciting match.
Humboldt took an early lead, scoring at 3:24 of the first period, thanks to some hard work by Spencer Braaten. Jeremy Boyer and Justin Buzzeo got the assists.
The Broncos went up 2-0 on a goal by Troy Gasper at 13:47 of the first. Tanner Clark and Nick Keller helped out on the goal.
The Broncos took their two-goal lead into the second period, where they quickly turned it into a three-goal lead.
Boyer, helped by Braaten and Buzzeo, scored the Broncos' third goal at 5:02.
Estevan finally got on the scoreboard at 4:30 of the second period, when Justin Waskewitch, helped by Ty Ariss and Dylan Smith, made it a 3-1 game.
At nine minutes into the second period, Humboldt got their first power play goal of the game when Steve Taylor put one in the net. Keller and Riley Gillies recorded the assists.
Bronco Buzzeo gave his team a four-goal lead at 12:01 of the second. Boyer and Braaten got the assists.
Estevan got their second goal of the game, again on the power play, at 12:58 of the second. Smith, helped by Tyler Spencer and Waskewitch, closed the gap to three.
With the score at 5-2, the teams headed into what would be rough third period.
Estevan made it a 5-3 game with a goal by Ariss and Spencer just 21 seconds into the final frame.
The Broncos rallied and scored two more goals to regain their two-goal margin. Boyer got his second goal and fourth point of the night at 6:39. Buzzeo and Braaten recorded the assists on the power play goal.
Adam Zbitniff got the Broncos' seventh goal of the night at 14:59 of the third. Adam Antkowiak got the assist.
The Bruins scored their last goal of the game at 16:06, when Spencer, helped by Ben Findlay, put one in the net.
The Broncos got two more goals in the game. The first at 17:07, when Boyer recorded his hattrick, helped once again by Buzzeo and Braaten.
Humboldt's last goal of the game, making it 9-4, came courtesy Troy Gasper, helped by Matt Glowa and Ward Szucki.
At 19:08, the Bruins' frustration got the better of them, leading Ariss to drop the gloves against Bronco Antkowiak. Both players received five-minute majors for fighting and game misconducts.
Bronco netminder Andrew Bodnarchuk faced 24 shots, while Joel Danyluk of the Bruins faced 30.
Boyer, Braaten, and Buzzeo were rewarded for their hard work as they were selected as the three stars of the game.
On November 20, the Broncos had to regroup as the Flin Flon Bombers came to town. This game was very different from the previous night as between them, the teams only put up five points on the scoreboard.
The Bombers got the lone goal of the first period, when Devan Stillar, helped by Dillan McCombie and Matt Maleschuk, put one in the Bronco net at 17:33.
Flin Flon increased their lead to two with a short-handed goal at 3:51 of the second. Stillar, assisted by Corey Tyrell, made it a 2-0 game.
Andrew Johnston of the Bombers made it a 3-0 game with a goal at 10:51 of the second. Eric Millisor recorded the assist.
Humboldt got on the scoreboard shortly after that thanks to Troy Gasper's goal at 8:33 of the second. Matt Glowa and Ward Szucki got the assists.
The Broncos got one more goal in the game with a Nathan Hudema goal at 12:46 of the third. Steve Taylor and Nick Keller helped out on the point.
That was it for scoring in the game, giving the Bombers a 3-2 victory against the Broncos.
Bodnarchuk, who was pulled with just over a minute left in the game, only faced 25 shots. P.J. Musico of the Bombers faced 48 over 60 minutes of action.
Taylor Johnson was named the third star of the game, the only Bronco to make the list.
