HUMBOLDT — In what will be his lone Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League postseason, Jerzy Orchard is trying to help the Humboldt Broncos go as far as they can.
The 21-year-old forward is tied for third on the Broncos in scoring headed into Friday’s Game 3 of the squad’s semifinals series with the Flin Flon Bombers. The Humboldt team is looking to win two on the road this weekend to bring the series back to the Elgar Petersen Arena on Tuesday knotted at 2-2.
“Jerzy has been very good for us in the playoffs,” Humboldt head coach Scott Barney said. “He creates a lot with the way he can handle the puck and brings players to him. … We expect big things from him and I’m sure he’ll continue to bring that for us.”
Orchard, who was acquired by the team in early January, has two goals and six points in eight games so far during this postseason. LeRoy’s Connor McGrath tops the Broncos with 10 points, while Alex Morozoff has eight points and a team-best four goals. Cage Newans and Orchard each have six points.
In the first round of the playoffs, the No. 2 seeded Broncos trailed No. 7 La Ronge 2-1. In the crucial third game of the series, Orchard recorded a goal and three assists to help his team to a 7-5 road victory. Morozoff had a hat trick on the night. Orchard assisted on two of his goals with Morozoff earning the helper on Orchard’s marker. The Broncos went on to win the next two games of the series to advance.
During the regular season, Orchard posted nine goals and 19 points in 22 games for Humboldt. He recorded two hat tricks. One of these came on a four-point night in a 7-1 romp past Battlefords. However, it is not just Orchard’s point production that has helped the Broncos since he joined the team.
“He’s been great about buying into how we want to play,” Barney said. “A great leader on the ice for us. Competes very hard. Sees the ice really well.”
A Delisle product, Orchard has previously played much of his junior career away from home. In 2018-19, he spent his rookie season with the Western Hockey League’s Kamloops Blazers. Orchard split the next campaign between the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades and the Merritt (B.C.) Centennials. He played the next season and a half with Merritt. Orchard was an assistant captain and won the Centennials’ Plus/Minus Award last season.
“It’s been a lot of fun playing close to home,” he said. “I’ve gotten to see my family a lot more so that’s been great. And I did know a handful of guys, so the transition was easy. Everyone brought me in with open arms and I’m very thankful for that.”
Orchard has really enjoyed the Broncos’ camaraderie.
“Everyone on the team is super close,” he said. “The community in Humboldt is phenomenal as well. Very tight knit and supportive of the team in so many ways.”
After this season Orchard plans to head to university. He is leaning towards studying psychology or business. Orchard might play hockey at the next level as well.
