One of two things were likely going to happen when the Broncos hosted the reigning Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League champions Friday at the Elgar Petersen Arena just a day before the Christmas break.

Humboldt was either going to lay down, soak up their roller coaster first half and take a beating by the top end Mustangs, or they were going to give their best 60 minute effort of the year and hit the champs in the mouth, thankfully for the 453 that made it to the game, they saw the latter from their green and gold which translated into a huge 4-2 victory for the Broncos to even their season series with Melfort.

Believe it or not, the two east-central arch rivals have met just once so far this season, that was a 4-1 Mustangs win at the Northern Lights Palace.

The Mustangs were again up in this hockey game but never did it feel like the Broncos weren't in control. Their only blemish in the first period was a three-on-one rush during four-on-four play that was finished by the league's top sniper Travis Mayan, the 20 year-old SJHL player of the year from a season ago beat Austin Swystun for his 31st goal of the year giving the visitors a 1-0 lead after one.

The Broncos busted through in the second getting two past Richard Palmer.

Laramie Kostelansky jumped on a loose puck and took it hard to the net beating Palmer through the legs to tie it 1-1 at the 2:58 mark of the middle frame. His linemates, Tristan Hermanson and Rock Ruschkowsky chipped in with the assists on Kostelansky's fourth goal.

Colin Woods then drove hard to the net scoring his second of the year, Logan Schatz and Trevor Posch picked up the helpers on the go-ahead power-play marker giving Humboldt a 2-1 lead going to the third.

Penalty trouble cost the home team in the third, while down a man Nik Malenica bumped a man from the back getting a boarding minor giving Melfort a two man advantage, Humboldt held tough but Justin Boyer tied it at 2-2 with 2:22 gone in the third.

But instead of folding like a cheap tent, the Posch, Schatz and Wesley Shipton trio went to work. Posch would slap his seventh of the year past Palmer for the eventual game winner, Schatz would add his fourth for insurance. Shipton and Schatz picked up points on the Posch tally, Jarrett Fontaine and Daniel McKitrick were credited with the assists on Schatz's goal.

Posch said answering after the tying goal was a must.

"When they got that it was kind of tough, we knew that we had to get one back right away, like next goal wins mentality and that's what we did out there."

The Broncos held Melfort to just 28 shots, more impressive, Swystun was making his first SJHL start, the 17 year-old was called up from the Saskatoon Blazers of the Saskatchewan AAA Midget ranks and looked stellar, at times terrific against the top ranked Mustangs.

All in all, Posch said the win was crucial and they would love another one Saturday night back at the Palace.

"That's a huge win going into Christmas break. Just a hell of a job by all the boys tonight, we played a full 60 minutes tonight. Just really impressed with the guys' effort tonight and hopefully we can get another one tomorrow."

Special teams were great for the Broncos, they allowed just the one power-play marker against in seven Melfort tries, Humboldt was 1/5 with the man advantage.

Palmer made 24 saves in the loss, just his fifth of the campaign.

You can hear all the action Saturday night on your radio starting at 7:15 with the pre-game show, face-off is at 7:30 with KMK Sales Broncos' hockey.

You can hear more from Posch below in his post-game interview with Bolt FM's Clark Stork.

Two other games in the SJHL last night, Yorkton thumped Notre Dame 5-1and Nipawin downed Melville 5-2.