Written by: Rory McGouran
The Humboldt Broncos secured their second straight preseason win on Friday night with a 3-1 victory on the road over the Melville Millionaires.
The majority game was a special teams display with 14 combined powerplays between the two teams, eight for the Broncos, six for the Millionaires. apiece.
The opening period was a tight checking affair with both teams unable to find any sustained offensive pressure. Shots mainly came from the outside, while the ones that did make their way net front were handled cleanly by Humboldt and Melville goaltenders, Rayce Ramsay and Keaton French, respectively.
The Millionaire’s opened up the scoring in the second period utilizing an odd man rush and a wicked wrist shot by third-year Millionaire, Johnathan Krahn, one of Melville’s few returning players in the lineup. The Mills held on to the lead for just over seven minutes until Justin Keck, a second year Bronco, tied the game at 1-1 off a nice centering pass from Nicksha Eric.
Albeit a back-and-forth middle frame that created multiple scoring chances for both teams, it was both goalies that stood strong and took the 1-1 tie into the final frame.
In the third, the Broncos took over. LeRoy, SK native, Connor McGrath, who had numerous grade-A scoring chances earlier in the game, broke the deadlock and gave the Broncos their first lead of the game midway through the period. Then just under a minute later, the powerplay finally came through on their eighth and final attempt. Broncos’ rookie, Tyler Kutschinski fired a perfectly placed shot under the bar from the high slot to extend the lead to 3-1. The Broncos closed the door from there on out. They outshot the Millionaires 17-10 in the final period, 48-30 throughout the game, and skated away with a 3-1 victory for their second straight win.
The two teams will square off once again on Saturday to wrap up the home and home set in Humboldt.
