After moving around early this season, Matthew Kenney has found a home and a comfort level with the Humboldt Broncos.
Through eight games in January, the talented 18-year-old has recorded nine of his 22 points and five of his 10 goals this season. He had a goal and an assist in a win over Battlefords North Stars as the Broncos went 1-2 last week.
“Matt Kenney loves to score … He has some real nice hands and a pro shot,” Humboldt head coach Ryan Smith said.
As of Jan. 18, the Broncos were ninth in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) standings. Both Humboldt and 10th-place Estevan had 35 points while La Ronge, sitting in 11th, had 34. The top 10 teams get to play in the SJHL postseason. Humboldt had a 16-21-3-0 record heading into a four-game home stand that started Jan. 21 with a rematch against Battlefords.
“Every game is important to us,” Smith said. “We want to make sure we are focused and ready every night. We can’t afford to let any game slip away.”
Kenney is from London, Ont. and played last season in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, a Junior B circuit. He originally went to camp last fall with the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League and then was swapped to the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s (MJHL) Dauphin Kings, where he started the season. Smith, who is a previous MJHL Coach of the Year, heard good things about Kenney from his MJHL connection and acquired him in October.
As of Jan. 18, the 5-foot-10, 175-pounder was third on the Broncos with 22 points in 26 games. He had a team-high 10 goals. Kenney had points in six of the eight games he’s played this month.
“He has really stepped up his play on both sides of the puck,” Smith said.
It was announced last week that Kenney earned the SJHL Rookie of the Week Award for the period ending Jan. 11. He had four points in two wins during the awards period.
Laroque Honoured
For the same period that Kenney earned his award, Colton Laroque was named the IBAS SJHL Defenceman of the Week. The 20-year-old from Saskatoon had three assists in three games during the awards period. Laroque has helped provide a veteran presence on the Broncos blue line.
“He’s been around and seen different situations … He is a very low maintenance player. He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes,” said Smith, who also praised Laroque’s ability to see the ice and make plays.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound blue liner has six points in 14 games since being acquired by the Broncos from the Weyburn Red Wings. Laroque spent last season with Weyburn after splitting his rookie year between the Red Wings and the Notre Dame Hounds.
Last Week
The Broncos won their third straight game on Jan. 13 with a 4-3 win on the road over the Battlefords North Stars. Humboldt scored three goals in the first period to take a 3-1 lead.
“It just allowed us to gain some confidence and play with some confidence,” Smith said of the strong first period.
Neither team scored in the second session. The Broncos scored in the final frame to hold off the Stars who scored twice in the period.
“We bent, but didn’t break and got two big points on the road,” Smith said.
Kenney, Logan Schatz, Jarrett Fontaine, and Jon Brumwell all scored for Humboldt. Kenney had a goal and an assist. Fontaine’s marker came on a penalty shot. Broncos goalie Jack Romanuik made 29 saves for the win.
Spencer Tremblay started for the North Stars and surrendered three goals on 13 shots. Ryan Rewerts came on in relief and allowed one goal in 12 shots. Scoring for Battlefords were Nick Fountain, Brenden Heinrich, and Reed Delainey. Two of Battlefords’ goals came on the power play.
Later in the week, the Broncos battled, but fell in a pair of games to the league-leading Melfort Mustangs.
“Both nights we gave 100 per cent effort,” Smith said.
Humboldt goaltender Jack Romanuik recorded 64 saves, according to the score sheets, in total against Melfort. Smith said it was the best that he has seen Romanuik play. The goalie grew up in Melfort and played for the Mustangs last season.
“He made some outstanding saves,” Smith said. “He was the rock for our team on the weekend.”
The Broncos’ streak ended when Melfort slipped by them, 3-2, at the Elgar Petersen Arena on Jan. 16. Humboldt led 1-0 after the first period. In the third, Melfort scored three times, while the Broncos were able to light the lamp once.
Kenney and defenceman Ryley McNeil had Humboldt’s goals. Romanuik recorded 40 saves.
Travis Mayan, Tristan Frei, and Adam Fauchoux scored for Melfort. Zach DeGraves had 20 saves for the Mustangs.
The teams met again the next night but this time in Melfort. The Mustangs won 4-1 at home. Gray Marr had Humboldt’s goal, while Romanuik made 24 saves. Melfort’s Richard Palmer stopped 19 shots. Mayan, Justin Boyer, Cole Hyrsky and Landon Robin had the Mustangs’ markers.
Home Game Sunday
The Broncos host the Estevan Bruins on Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. It is the second game of a four-game home stand for Humboldt. The game has added importance as the two squads are fighting for a playoff spot and seeding.
Humboldt plays Battlefords at the EPA on Jan. 28. Yorkton comes to town on Jan. 31.
Catching Up With
Logan Sproule (2010-2014) has impressed the University of Alberta-Augustana Campus men’s hockey team head coach with his poise and compete level.
“He competes really hard and definitely we try to get him out there quarterbacking our No. 1 power-play unit,” Vikings head coach Blaine Gusdal said.
The Saskatoon product leads the Vikings defencemen with 14 points, including three goals, in 22 games. With the Broncos, Sproule won the 2012 SJHL title. Last season he was named the Kramer Division’s Top Defenceman.
