HUMBOLDT BRONCOS
As a 16-year-old, Zach McIntyre experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.
While enjoying a point-per-game campaign with the Yorkton Maulers of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League, McIntyre was summoned to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League on several occasions by the Humboldt Broncos.
The product of Rhein, Sask., had the thrill of scoring his first Junior “A” goal during that time, but later that season he endured unbelievable heartache when most of his teammates from that club were killed in a tragic bus crash.
Now a year older, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound winger is making the most of his opportunity to play full-time with the Broncos as McIntyre has collected six goals and three assists in 16 games this season.
McIntyre started the year on fire with four points in his first three games and then after a spell where he cooled off a bit, he has returned to the scoresheet with points in five straight games, including four straight games where he netted a goal.
Prior to relocating to Humboldt on a permanent basis, McIntyre spent two seasons with the Maulers where he had 58 points in 76 games, including 40 in 40 last year. McIntyre first made the Broncos’ radar in his final season of bantam hockey when he was selected 14th overall in the annual bantam draft after he helped the Yorkton Bantam AA Terriers claim their second straight provincial championship.
From the outset everyone knew this would be an emotional season for the Broncos. McIntyre has certainly done his part to put a positive spin on everything and that has translated into the Broncos challenging not only for the Global Ag Risk Solutions Division lead, but first place overall.
