NORTH BATTLEFORD — Two rivals in the Global Ag Tech Solutions division were in action again Saturday night in the SJHL as the Humboldt Broncos took on the Battlefords North Stars at Access Communications Centre.
The game had been a close one early on, but turned into a rout in the third period and it was the division leaders doing all laughing. Humboldt completely outclassed the North Stars 7-1, dominating in shots 42-29 and getting hat trick performances from both Matthew Perkins and Jerzy Orchard.
It was an unexpected turn of events after what was a tight first period for the two rivals. The North Stars took the early 1-0 lead in the first period from an unassisted goal by Wilson Steele with just over five minutes to go in the frame.
However, with 3:09 left the Broncos tied it up on a goal by Jerzy Orchard from Matthew Perkins, beating Austin Schwab in the North Stars net, and that would be all the scoring in the period. Shots favoured the Broncos 10-9 through one.
The Broncos took the lead just 59 seconds into period two, as Matthew Perkins scored from Kade Olsen. It stayed 2-1 until the 18:29 mark, when Samuel Marburg added the insurance marker from Cody Hough and Ethan Zielke. Shots favoured Humboldt through two, 26-22.
The third period saw Humboldt completely take control of the game with two power play goals. With Keiton Klein in the box, Perkins scored his second of the night from Alex Morozoff just 29 seconds in to period three to make it 4-1.
Then, with Matthew Henry penalized for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct, it was Orchard scoring his second of the night at the 6:10 mark with Perkins and Morozoff assisting,
Then with 7:18 left in the period Perkins completed his hat trick, with Alec Saretzky and Lucas Ceccarelli assisting, for a seemingly insurmountable five-goal Broncos lead late in the third period.
Frustrations boiled over in the late going as a full-on fight involving four players broke out near the bench area, followed by an even bigger brawl in the North Stars zone in the final minute.
The referees spent the final moments of the game having to sort out a host of penalties. In the end, the North Stars were left having to finish the game on a two-man disadvantage, and Humboldt finished off the scoring with one last goal from Orchard, for his hat trick with three seconds left, for a 7-1 final score.
Rayce Ramsay got the win in net for Humboldt stopping 28 shots.
Next up for the North Stars is a trip to Melville Sunday, while the Broncos host Kindersley Wednesday.
