The Humboldt Broncos (green and gold) were unable to score on a late goal scramble against the Flin Flon Bombers (maroon and white) at Elgar Petersen Arena. (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff)

By Aaron Schulze

Broncos Gear Up For The Road

Broncos to take positives from 5-2 loss to Bombers

Oct 25, 2019 | 12:30 PM

C.S. Lewis, a British writer, once said: “isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different?”

His inspiration behind that quote was the Humboldt Broncos’ two home games against the Flin Flon Bombers in October (okay, not really).

On Oct. 10, the Broncos trailed the Bombers after the first period before coming back to win 3-2.

Fast-forward to the rematch on Thursday, Oct. 24 at Elgar Petersen Arena, the roles were reversed. The Broncos led after the first period, but it was the Bombers who came back to win 5-2.

“I just think the last game we got a couple of quick goals at the end,” Broncos Head Coach Scott Barney said. “You’ve got to play 60 minutes in [the SJHL]. There are 12 great teams, and if you take a night off the puck can be in your net. They’ve got a really good club over there, and if we take time off [the puck] is going to be in the net.”

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The Broncos scored first when Logan Kurki – the 17-year-old forward recently acquired from the Coquitlam Express of the British Columbia Hockey League – intercepted a pass at the Bombers’ blue line and sent a cross-ice pass to defenceman Cody Hough. Along with killing off the Bombers’ top ranked power play (going into the game with a 30 per cent efficiency rate), the Broncos’ first period was a success.

But as Barney said, teams in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) need to play a full 60 minutes.

Led by the SJHL’s top scoring line of Cole Rafuse, Alec Malo, and Donavan Houle-Villeneuve, the Bombers outscored the Broncos 3-0 in the second period and outshot them 20-10. Rafuse put back a rebound and set up Easton Haygarth for the first two goals, before Caleb Franklin’s pass bounced off a Broncos skate and stick and in.

“I don’t know if we got a little overconfident or played into their game plan,” Barney said. “When they’ve got a top line, you’ve got to contain them. They’re smart players. Some of them played at a higher level than this league and they know how to get away with things and what to do with the puck. You’ve got to give them credit.”

Both the Broncos and Bombers traded breakaway goals in the third period, and the Broncos even outshot the Bombers 16-9 in the frame, but it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback.

“I can’t be upset with the effort,” Barney said. “The guys gave 110 per cent. When the guys work hard like that… hey, I hate losing like anybody else, but when you lose to a good hockey club, that’s hockey and you’ve got to give them credit over there.

Following the loss, the Broncos sit second in the Global Ag Risk Solutions division with 18 points (8-5-1-1) in 15 games with the Kindersley Klippers only trailing by three points.

Barney said despite the loss, they’ll focus on all the positives from the Bombers game before beginning a four-game road trip.

“There’s no point dwelling on the negative things,” he said. “We don’t have time right now to work on that too long in practice. We’ve got to go with the positives, fix a few things in our game, and go to Melville for a big game.”

The Broncos travel to Melville on Saturday, Oct. 26 to take on the Millionaires.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Broncos, Cody Hough (2) from Logan Kurki (2), 17:26

Second Period

1-1, Bombers, Cole Rafuse (9) from Alec Malo (23) and Donavan Houle-Villeneuve (10), 5:00

2-1, Bombers, Easton Haygarth (5) from Cole Rafuse (15) and Donavan Houle-Villeneuve (11), 7:22 (PP)

3-1, Bombers, Caleb Franklin (2) from Chase Haygarth (10) and Easton Haygarth (12), 15:32

Third Period

4-1, Bombers, Donavan Houle-Villeneuve (16) from Cole Rafuse (16) and Chase Haygarth (11), 1:14

4-2, Broncos, Karter McNarland (3) from Chase Felgueiras (5) and Zach McIntyre (7), 11:18

5-2, Bombers, Alec Malo (7) from Easton Haygarth (13) and Adam Victorino (4), 19:11 (EN)

Goaltenders

Bombers, Matt Sankner (W), 31 saves on 33 shots against, 60:00

Broncos, Brendan Forman (L), 35 saves on 39 shots against, 58:57

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow