HUMBOLDT — The Humboldt Broncos are one game away from losing the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League semifinals to the Flin Flon Bombers.
The Bombers defeated the Broncos 1-0 on April 8 in Flin Flon. The series is 3-0 in favour of Flin Flon.
The game was a back-and-forth, evenly matched affair, with both teams exchanging chances. Netminders Cal Schell of Flin Flon and Rayce Ramsay of Humboldt proved mostly up to the task when called upon, with Ramsay making his presence felt early by stopping an otherwise sure goal with a fabulous glove save.
A two-on-one in the first period got the Bombers on the board. The Bombers' Jacob Vockler burst into the zone with Matt Raymond adjacent, with a pinpoint pass and a quick shot by Raymond beating Ramsay and getting the Bombers on the board.
Big saves, hits, penalty kills and defensive plays ruled the roost, as despite dozens of chances for both teams, the remaining 45 minutes of the game went by with no other goals. With Ramsay pulled late in the third, the Bombers' Drew Kuzma almost found the empty net, but the puck went wide.
Schell earned yet another shutout – his first of the playoffs and eighth overall this year – with a 33 save performance, while Ramsay made 37 saves.
Whoever wins the series, the opponent they will face is already known. While the Broncos and Bombers went almost a week between playing games - both teams observed a pause in tribute to the anniversary (April 6) of the Broncos' horrific bus crash in 2018 – Estevan and Yorkton kept playing, with the Bruins closing out the Terriers in Games 3 and 4 to end the series in a sweep. The Bruins, who will host the Centennial Cup this year, punched their ticket to the final by beating the Terriers in Yorkton 2-1 Tuesday and 7-2 Thursday.
If Humboldt wins Game 4 on April 9, Game 5 would be played in Humboldt Tuesday, April 12.
