The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The Humboldt Broncos are SJHL champions for a second straight year. The Broncos rolled to an 8-2 win over the Kindersley Klippers in game seven at the Elgar Petersen Arena Wednesday night. The teams played before an announced crowd of roughly 1850, however with three rows of fans standing behind seats that were completely full, one has to wonder if the attendance wasnÕt more like 2,500 on a night where the 50/50 winner took home $5,000. The Schroeder twins erupted for seven points in the game and Taylor Nelson made 30-saves in a game that was closer than what the score indicated. The game started on the right foot for Humboldt as just 29 seconds in Torey Allan split the defense and had a quality scoring chance on Ryan Nieszner, which resulted in a hooking penalty to the Klippers.Ê On the ensuing powerplay, the Broncos buzzed and finally scored at 2:17 when Brady Wacker fired from the point with a clear lane to the net.Ê He beat Nieszner down low for the 1-0 lead.Ê The shots at that point were 7-0 for Humboldt. It was 2-0 after Brayden Klimosko scored late in the first, capitalizing on a rebound and finding the five hole on the Kindersley netminder.Ê After the ensuing face-off, Ed Gale put a shot off theÊpost as he was stationed in front of the net and the puck came to him with a wide open cage.Ê Humboldt had a 17-5 edge in shots after the opening 20 minutes of play. The turning point, perhaps, came early in the second when Nelson made an excellent paddle save after he appeared to be down and out of the play.Ê However, he managed to throw out his arm and the stick kept the puck from crossing the line.Ê Moments later, Tanner Vandesype let a hard pass go from the point that was stopped by Jordan Schindel and then he made a move before scoring his league leading 14th of the playoffs.Ê That put the Broncos ahead 3-0. Two and a half minutes later, Nieszner stopped Schindel on a penalty shot and that seemed to spark the Klippers, who had plenty of opportunities to get back in the game and make it interesting.Ê Kirk Pearce made it 3-1 as the Klippers moved the puck well from point to point before working it down low and Pearce was able to shovel it in. If that goal gave Kindersley hope, the next one had to deflate them as Josh Garneau scored from behind the net. The never-quit Klippers scored at 19:45 of the second when Brett Leedahl pounced on a loose puck at the side of the net.Ê Kindersley outshot Humboldt 17-8 in the middle frame and it appeared as though they may be poised for another one of their newly patented comebacks. But at 4:37 of the third, Nieszner lost the puck in his skates and it was promptly picked up by Klimosko, who got his second of the game. ÊAt 11:54, Steve Schroeder centred for Scott Schroeder and he showed tremendous patience in outwaiting Nieszner and wristing it into the open net. Kindersley Head Coach Larry Wintoneak, with his team down 6-2, pulled Nieszner with over five minutes to play.Ê Humboldt capitalized with empty net goals from Allan and Matthew Kirzinger. The Klippers gave it a valiant effort in that they outshot Humboldt 27-18 over the final two periods. Schindel was named the Credential Cup Most Valuable Player after scoring 14 goals and 13 assists in 19 games.Ê Humboldt opens the ANAVET Cup on Friday against the Portage Terriers.Ê The Broncos also host game two on Saturday.Ê TheyÕll play games 3, 4, and 5 in Portage next week.
