The Humboldt Broncos traditionally use the games of the pre-season to throw different players out on the ice and see how they perform. And this year was no different from any other.
A mix of veteran and rookie players was put on the ice for each of the exhibition games played between September 6 and 10.
It was a very young team that skated onto the ice in Nipawin for the first game against the Nipawin Hawks.
With goalie Matt Hrynkiw in net, the Broncos took a 2-0 lead with goals at 14:37 - scored by Brett Tresscanenko, with assists by Joey Davies and David Stumborg - and at 17:17 - scored by Stumborg with assists by Curtis Fontaine and Colton Dow.
Nipawin got on the board with a goal at the end of the first period, then tied the game at 8:70 of the second.
The Broncos took the lead again with a goal by Brett Pinder, assisted by Davies and Nathan Hudema at 9:08 of the second.
The Hawks were able to score to tie the game at three at 4:15 of the third period.
Regulation time ended with the score still tied, but the game ended within the first shift of overtime, when the Hawks scored just 47 seconds into the frame.
Game 1: 4-3 Nipawin.
Game 2, played in Kindersley against the Klippers, also ended in overtime.
This time with goalie Taylor Marble in net, once again, Humboldt kicked off scoring with a goal at 4:54 of the first period by Pat Tran, assisted by Ryan Marshall and Kameron Ballas.
The Klippers didn't tie the game until early in the third, but they added another in the third frame to take a 2-1 lead.
The Broncos fought back and scored a tying goal at 16:43 of the third, thanks to Josh Roach and Marshall.
Just three minutes into overtime, the Klippers got their third and final goal of the night.
Game 2: 3-2 Kindersley.
The Broncos finally played their first game at home on September 8 in front of a good-sized crowd.
With a different lineup yet again, and Hrynkiw in net for Humboldt, the Broncos trounced the Melfort Mustangs, who seemed to fall apart in the last period of the game.
It was the Mustangs who scored first, just a minute into the game.
But the Broncos tied it up at 7:14 of the first period with a power play goal by David Miazga, assisted by Cody Wourms.
Humboldt took the lead with a second point at 9:52 of the first, scored by Andrew Johnston, and assisted by William Plourde and Logan Sproule.
The Broncos added to their lead at 4:03 of the second, on a short-handed goal by Drew Berkel, assisted by Johnston, but Melfort was able to score just over a minute later to bring the game within one.
Humboldt scored again at 13:39 (Joey Davies from Greg Ferguson), again on the power play, to make it a 4-2 game.
Another short-handed goal at 14:53 of the third, added by Brett Pinder, and another power play point just a minute later by Miazga closed out scoring for the game.
While penalties in the first two game were pretty minimal, there was a glut of them in this third game, especially on Melfort's side. Just into the first period, one of the Mustangs was given a game misconduct and two minutes for checking to the head. Another three game misconducts were handed out in the second period after penalties for charging and fighting.
Game 3: 6-2 Humboldt.
Game 4 was the Broncos' second contest at home, and their second against the Nipawin Hawks. But the contest this time was far from close.
There was no scoring in the first period, but the Broncos kicked if off in the second with two goals at the 14:25 and 16:35 marks, scored by Cody Pettapiece, with assists by Ryan Marshall and Adam Antkowiak, and by Antkowiak, assisted by Joey Davies and Pettapiece.
Humboldt added three more goals in the third to take a commanding 5-0 lead.
The first was at 1:56 of the third, scored unassisted by Brett Pinder.
The second came at 4:23, scored by Brendan Fornwald and assisted by Pettapiece and David Miazga.
The third was made at 10:43, off the stick of Fornwald and assisted by Cody Schlosser and Davies.
Nipawin's lone goal was scored at 17:57 of the third period.
A fight broke out between Cody Wourms of the Broncos and Liam Wiese of the Hawks in the last two minutes of the game. Both were given five minutes for fighting, and game misconducts.
Game 4: 5-1 Humboldt.
A fifth pre-season game for the Broncos was to occur on September 11 in Melfort; however, due to issues with scheduling, Humboldt did not play that game.
As of Tuesday, September 6, the Broncos were ranked sixth in the CJHL Pre-Season Top 20, behind the Pembroke Lumber Kings (CCHL), Vernon Vipers (BCHL), Wellington Dukes (OJHL), Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL) and Powell River Kings (BCHL).
Humboldt was the only Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League team in the top 10 rankings.
The Humboldt Broncos' regular season homeopener will be September 17 against the Notre Dame Hounds.
