The Flin Flon Bombers began their six-game southern road trip with a tough loss, dropping a 6-5 tilt to the Humboldt Broncos.
The two teams were evenly matched, with momentum swinging back and forth throughout the game.
Bomber Nate Hooper opened the scoring at the 10 minute mark of the first period, scoring his third goal of the year against Broncos 'tender Jacob Wassermann. Chrystopher Collin followed soon after, getting the rookie his ninth goal in 10 SJHL games.
Humboldt's Logan Boulet cut the Bombers' momentum with a late first period goal, halving the Bombers' lead to 2-1 after one period.
Brayden Camrud tied it up for Humboldt early in the second period. After Bomber captain Ben Lanfermann dropped the gloves with opponent Greysen Cameron after a questionable hit by the Humboldt forward, Flin Flon's Caleb Moretz scored to give the Bombers the lead.
Bronco Jacob Leicht kept his team close, tying the game up again near the end of the second period.
Logan Hunter scored to start the third period, giving Humboldt its first lead of the game and putting the Bombers on their heels. Kurtis Rutledge responded for Flin Flon with a goal of his own, tying the game 4-4. Logan Schatz scored for Humboldt, but Calvon Boots answered back for the Bombers, tying the game late in the third period.
However, the Bombers couldn't make the deadlock last. Bronco rookie Jordan Bogress slipped one past Bomber netminder Brenden Newton with six minutes to go, giving Humboldt a lead they wouldn't give up.
Newton, fresh off of earning last week's SJHL Goalie of the Week honour, made 27 saves on 33 shots, while Wassermann also made 27 stops.
Flin Flon will stay in second place in the Sherwood Division with 13 points in 10 games. The Nipawin Hawks remain in third in the division standings, but are only one point behind the Bombers. The division-leading Melfort Mustangs are still flying high, going 9-1-1-0 through 11 games.
The Bombers will hop back on the team bus and head to the bustling metropolis of Wilcox, Saskatchewan Thursday for a game against the Notre Dame Hounds. Wednesday's game began a six-game road trip for the team, with three sets of games to be played on back-to-back nights.
