HUMBOLDT — It was a wild Saturday night for the Humboldt Broncos.
At the Elgar Petersen Arena, the squad played a full hockey game and a sixth of another. They came away with a come from behind victory and a loss.
On Friday night, the Broncos had seemingly staged a come from behind win. Matthew Perkins scored in overtime to lift the visitors past the Melfort Mustangs, 4-3. However, the Mustangs protested the outcome of the game. The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League decided an officiating error had taken place. Complicated, the error related to when a Mustang was supposed to come out of the penalty box.
When two teams met again, as scheduled, on Saturday in Humboldt, they started with replaying the last 9:37 of Friday’s game. The score 3-2 for Melfort and Humboldt was on the powerplay. Only the players on Friday’s scoresheet could participate. This left Humboldt without the three affiliated players it had called up. Melfort won 5-2.
“I’ve never seen a situation like that,” said Broncos head coach Scott Barney, who had a long pro career including time in the National Hockey League. “It's in the rulebook and the constitution, obviously we got to agree with it.
“Obviously, it’s tough to play before another game. We were short staffed with the three APs we couldn’t play. Hey, it’s hockey. Hockey and life are about adversity. It was good to see the guys rise to the occasion in the second game.”
Humboldt bounced back from the loss to earn a come from behind victory 6-4 Saturday.
“Obviously, a different situation that players have not had to play in before,” Barney said. “Our biggest thing was just focus and controlled emotion. I think that was the biggest thing that led to our success … The guys really stayed focused in the room and that was the big key, for sure.”
Broncos Ranked for NHL Draft
Two Humboldt Broncos were among the three Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League players named in the National Hockey League’s Central Scouting Midterm rankings for the 2022 NHL Draft.
Among North American-based skaters, Matthew Perkins was ranked 117th and Connor McGrath was 128th. As of Sunday, LeRoy’s McGrath led the SJHL in points (58 in 38 games) and assists (38). He has committed to study and play at Ferris State University in Michigan. Perkins was sixth in SJHL scoring with 43 points in 39 games. The 17-year-old was the youngest scorer in the top 10.
“It's an incredible accomplishment for these two,” said Broncos head coach Scott Barney said on the team’s website. “They have both worked extremely hard to put themselves in this position and in this spotlight. The sky is the limit for them if they continue work as hard as they have shown us. It’s a very exciting time for these players and the Broncos program overall. We’re really proud of them.”
Notre Dame forward Kevin Anderson was ranked 119th. Of the 14 Canadian Junior A players ranked, Perkins was fourth and McGrath sixth.
Roster Moves
At the Jan. 10 national trade deadline, the Humboldt Broncos made a few last tweaks to their roster. After the deadline, head coach and general manager Scott Barney said:
“We reel really good with this group moving forward. … I feel we’re really strong in all different areas.”
On deadline day, the Broncos added defenceman Jared Kaplowitz from the North American Hockey League’s Springfield (Ill.) Jr. Blues. They also got forward James Form from the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League.
“We’re really glad to have both of those guys,” Barney said.
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Kaplowitz hails from Marietta, Ga. The 19-year-old had six assists in 19 games this season in the NAHL. He played both games on the weekend for Humboldt. Barney said Kaplowitz “moves well, moves the puck and defends.”
Some Broncos fans might recognize Form’s name. The Saskatoon product had suited up for Humboldt for a game as an affiliated player in 2018-2019. Form played three seasons for the WHL’s Winnipeg Ice. This season with the Chiefs, the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder scored once in nine games. He lit the lamp for the Broncos on the weekend.
Humboldt traded forward Jakob Jones to the B.C. Hockey League’s Merritt Centennials, whose head coach is ex-Broncos assistant coach Curtis Toneff, for future considerations.
Last week the Broncos continued to build their roster for next season. They signed Lucky Lake’s Jaydon Jessiman. He has been an affiliated player for Humboldt this season and plays U18 AAA for Warman. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound 2004-born forward has 16 goals and 35 points in 28 games this season for the league leading Wildcats.
The Broncos last week
Friday, Jan. 14/Jan. 15 in Melfort/Humboldt
Melfort 5, Humboldt 2
Mustangs Scorers: Nolan Doell (2), Cameron Emigh, Ben Tkachuk, Carter Anderson
Broncos Scorers: Alec Saretzky, Noah Barlage
Goalies: Joel Favareau, Melfort, 35 saves on 37; Rayce Ramsay, Humboldt, 23 on 27
Attendance: 579
Notes: After a scoreless first period, Melfort took a 2-0 lead in the second. The teams each scored in the first two minutes of the third period. Noah Barlage scored on the powerplay to cut Melfort’s lead to 3-2 at the 10:23 mark. On Friday, Humboldt would go on to complete the comeback with a 4-3 overtime victory with Saretzky tying the contest at 3-3 and Matthew Perkins scoring the game winner. However, Melfort protested the outcome of the game – citing an officiating error. The SJHL upheld the protest. On Saturday, in Humboldt, the game was replayed from the time of the error – 10:23 with 9:37 on the clock. Doell scored two goals to seal the victory for Melfort. Then the teams regrouped to play Saturday’s full game. For a variety of reasons, including COVID-19 protocols, the Broncos were down 10 regulars. They called upon three affiliated players in Danton Cox, Jaydon Jessiman and Humboldt’s own McLaren Paulsen. It was Paulsen’s first game with the team.
Saturday, Jan. 15 in Humboldt
Humboldt 6, Melfort 4
Broncos Scorers: Samuel Marburg (2), James Form, Tyler Kutschinski, Alec Saretzky, Connor McGrath
Mustangs Scorers: Ben Tkachuk, Dawson Leroux, Boston Maxwell, Marco Lopez
Goalies: Rayce Ramsay, Humboldt, 20 saves on 24; James Venne, Melfort, 25 on 30; Joel Favareau. Melfort, 4 on 4
Attendance: 754
Notes: After a 1-1 first period, Melfort took a 3-2 lead in the second frame. The Broncos outscored the Mustangs, 4-1, in the third. Marburg capped the game with two consecutive goals. Melfort’s Boston Maxwell and Humboldt’s Connor Casparie dropped the gloves in the second period. Owen Evers of the Broncos and Leyton Holoien of the Mustangs tangled in the third. The loss ended Melfort’s 10-game winning streak.
This Week
The Humboldt Broncos (29-11-0-0) are in Melville (14-18-7-0) on Tuesday. The Broncos host the Notre Dame Hounds (15-16-2-1) on Thursday. The team travels to Yorkton (16-15-1-4) on Saturday. The Broncos’ Jan. 11 contest against Notre Dame was postponed. No makeup date has been announced yet.
