Broncos bid farewell to eight graduating players

There has not really been any bad times with the team, he said.

“The best part about being here is meeting all the new friends and brothers and you always gonna have those friendships.”

His April 9, game four overtime goal was definitely a career highlight, he said, since it kept the team alive in the semi-finals and stopped Flin Flon from getting a clean sweep in the series.

Being part of the Humboldt community has also been a highlight for Olsen.

“The community loves us, we love them. Like we try and do as much as we can and it’s just great to put smiles on kids face, older people’s faces.”

Rayce Ramsay

The Broncos star goalie finished off his junior career with a stellar record; 77 games played in two seasons with the green and gold, including 41 wins this season breaking the SJHL record. He also had a 0.927 average save percentage, 2,143 saves, 4,512 regular season minutes in the Broncos’ net; including nearly 3,000 this past season, far more than any other goalie throughout the Canadian Junior Hockey League, and five career shutouts.

Ramsay said he has had a great career with the Broncos, but not because of his stats or the accolades he has received this season.

“I’ve been lucky both years I’ve been here that I’ve had a really good group of guys in the room that makes coming to the rink every day fun. So I’m just so thankful for all my teammates I’ve had, (and) my coaches.”

The support the Broncos have gotten from the community, especially during playoffs, can be overwhelming at times, he said, but much appreciated.

Ramsay announced his commitment to the University of Toronto Varsity Blues of the U Sports Ontario University Athletic Conference back in February where he will be taking Computer Science.

Alex Morozoff

A relative newcomer to the Humboldt Broncos, forward Alex Morozoff spent some time in the WHL before joining the SJHL back in November. In 32 regular season games with the Broncos, Morozoff earned 20 goals and 20 assists while chalking up another four goals and four assists during this past playoff season.

Coming in halfway through the season, Morozoff said he bonded with his new team very quickly and gained new brothers in his final season as a junior.

Cody Hough

Defenceman Cody Hough will wrap up three seasons with the Humboldt Broncos with 106 regular season games, 10 goals and 44 assists. This past season he finished with 45 wins, which was a big highlight for him this season.

Playing in Humboldt and being part of the community, it’s more than just playing hockey. It’s hard to explain, he said, but he’ll remember and cherish the feeling of being part of the Humboldt community.

“You go to events like at Christmas time, like you have a whole community rallying around you, singing carols, you know, they got the sleigh going in the background. That’s the feeling I remember, that’s the thing I’ll cherish.”

Jerzy Orchard

Similar to Morozoff, forward Jerzy Orchard also finished off his junior hockey career with the Broncos after some time in the WHL. An at-the-deadline trade back in January, Orchard played 22 regular season games with the Broncos scoring nine goals and earning 10 assists, as well as two goals and five assists during the playoffs.

Orchard also felt welcomed by the team and the community.

“Ever since the first day I was here, they just welcomed me with open arms. I can’t thank them enough.”

Wrapping up his junior career, points and win is not what he is going to remember, he said.

“You just always remember the camaraderie you had, so just grateful for all the guys I got a chance to play with and, you know, all the memories we made.”

Orchard just announced this week his commitment to Simon Fraser University of the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) for the 2022/23 season.

Nicksha Eric

Defenceman Nicksha Eric wraps up his SJHL career with Broncos following three seasons and 94 games with the Humboldt Broncos. The 20-year-old from Calgary, Alta., finished his junior hockey career with eight goals and 23 assists, 17 of which were earned this past season, and 31 points. Eric also took home the Alphonse Krakowka Memorial Trophy Defensive Defenceman for his work this season.

Eric, who due to an injury sustained in game five of the semi-finals and having his jaw wired shut, wrote that the knowledge and confidence he gained has been the highlight of his career.

“The staff and community helped me grow as a hockey player, student and member of such an awesome city.”

Eric also wrote he will cherish the countless memories he has of the Humboldt community and the support the team received was nice to see.

Early in March, Eric and the Broncos announced his commitment to the Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C. for the 2022/23 season in the Canada West Division of USports.

Braiden Koran

After three seasons donning the green and gold, forward Braiden Koran finished his junior career with 114 regular season games, 39 goals and 54 assists. This past season he finished at number 11 for the league’s top skaters with 57 points to his name.

Reflecting back on four years in Humboldt, Koran said the fans, coaches, and players made working and living in Humboldt an amazing experience. The community supports their hockey players, he said.

Having a season like they did made for an awesome experience.

“Showing up at camp not knowing where we were at and coming in kind of running the league, it was a awesome experience this year.”

Koran announced his post-secondary commitment back in February as he will be joining the Ontario Tech University Ridgebacks for the 2022/23 season.

Reilly McKinnon

In his first and last season as a Bronco, defenceman Reilly McKinnon hit the ice in 56 regular season games scoring three goals and earning 16 assists, as well as four assists during this past play off season.

While it was a disappointing end to the season, McKinnon had never experienced a group that was as tight knit as this season’s team.

“I’ll remember for the rest of my life playing for the Broncos and yeah, I’m lost for words, I just it’s probably been the most fun I’ve ever had.”

One important memory for McKinnon from this past season was the parent’s weekend against Flin Flon, he said. His parents and grandparents did make it down from B.C. to watch him play and they got to see him score a goal.

McKinnon announced in February his commitment to the State University of New York (SUNY) to study construction management, an NCAA Division III school in Canton, N.Y., for the 2022/23 season.

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becky.zimmer@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @bex_zim

by Becky Zimmer

Broncos bid farewell to eight graduating players

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