HUMBOLDT - In the fourth and final meeting of the season between the top teams in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) this season, the Humboldt Broncos came out on top.
The host Broncos defeated the Estevan Bruins 4-1 Saturday night at the Elgar Petersen Arena. Humboldt won three of the four meetings between the two clubs this season.
Connor McGrath opened the scoring for Humboldt 6:05 into the first period. It remained a 1-0 game until midway through the second period, when Alexc Saretzky scored to double Humboldt’s advantage.
Eric Pearce scored the Bruins’ lone goal of the night 51 seconds after Saretzky’s goal.
Estevan ramped up the pressure in the third, outshooting the Broncos 15-8. But Broncos’ goaltender Rayce Ramsay came up with some timely saves.
Ethan Zielke and Nicksha Eric scored empty net goals 33 seconds apart late in the third period to put the game away.
Ramsay finished with 39 saves on the night.
Boston Bilous stopped 26 shots for the Bruins.
The Broncos (24-8) now have the most points in the SJHL, two more than the Bruins (22-6-1-1). Estevan has two games in hand.
Humboldt will return to the ice Tuesday night at home against the Kindersley Klippers.
Estevan’s next game will be Wednesday, when they host the Weyburn Red Wings. Game time is at 7 p.m.
