It was a good solid 60 minutes of physical hockey that led to the 3-2 overtime victory for the Humboldt Broncos on Saturday night. So says Humboldt Broncos Head Coach Scott Barney. It’s that kind of play that the Broncos intend to take into the Elgar Petersen Arena on Tuesday night for Game 5 of their semi-final series against the Flin Flon Bombers. Every game is do or die for the Broncos as they work their way back into the series following a trio of opening losses. 

“We played a little more physically, and we’ve got a team that can do that,” said Barney about the team’s Game 4 performance. “It paid off in the end for us. There’s no quit in our end, and we’ll take it one shift, one period, one game at a time and keep moving forward.”

The Broncos opened with a two goal lead into the second period on goals from Lucas Ceccarelli and Matthew Perkins. The Bombers Drew Kuzma cut the lead to one in the second. The Broncos were poised to skate off with a regulation time victory when Bomber Jason Mercier tied the game in the dying seconds. Barney took command of the situation right away.

“I got into the dressing room right away and talked to the guys, saying there’s nothing we can do about it; let’s get to the next shift here. Obviously the rink was going off the walls. We said someone needs to be a hero here, and when your captain steps up and scores a big winner, that’s a big boost to your club.”

Indeed, Captain Kade Olsen’s lightning fast turnaround goal put the Broncos over the top and back on the ice Tuesday night. The entire game was rife with chances at both ends, and once again, fans were treated to an outstanding pair of efforts at either end of the rink in net. 

“If you’d asked me at the beginning of the series if I’d be happy giving up only 5 goals at this point, I’d have been pretty happy about that, but (Bombers’ goalie) Schell has been great over there as well. With (Rayce) Ramsey, it’s been a goaltenders duel. I think the goals that have gone in have either gone off guys or have been unfortunate bounces. But that’s hockey, and especially playoff hockey.”

The key descriptor for the Broncos throughout the 2021-2022 campaign has been resilience, and that’s a quality that will be on display Tuesday night at the EPA. Barney looks at the keys for the team, down 3 games to 1.

“We come out shift by shift, and right when that puck comes out, we’ve got to be ready to go for sixty minutes and give it our all. We’re hoping our rink is just as packed as it is in Flin Flon.”

The Broncos have consistently fed off the energy of the home crowd this season, and Barney says it’s time for that Broncos spirit to light up the EPA with a packed house. Time for local businesses and fans to represent on Tuesday with their Bronco gear. Tickets are on sale online and at the Broncos office for the 7:30 start time on Tuesday, and don’t forget to tune into the play by play on 107.5 Bolt FM.

And don't forget, if you can't make the game, get in on the guaranteed $10,000 50/50 draw with your ticket purchase online at HumboldtBroncos.com.