2019 rolled into the EPA for the Humboldt Broncos and while the effort was there, puck luck was nowhere to be found, as the Broncos dropped their first game following the holiday break 3-1 to the Notre Dame Hounds

The Broncos weren't without chances in all three periods with the bounces favouring the visiting team for the majority of the night. When the shots did come off clean, Notre Dame Hounds rookie goalie Riley Kohonick was there to make the save.

The Hounds opened up the scoring less than five minutes into the first period of the stick of Jarrett Penner. Connor Mclean would add a powerplay goal in the second to double their lead to 2-0. In the third period, it was once again the Hounds scoring first. Marchal Wilton picked up his team-leading 13th of the season and the Broncos found themselves in a 3-0 hole in the final frame. 

Humboldt would pull their goalie with just about three minutes remaining, resulting in their lone goal of the night. Drew Warkentine scored his 11th of the season assisted by Michael Clarke's team-leading 46th point.

That would be all the Broncos could muster up offensively. They put 35 shots on the net of Kohonick, who stopped 34. Rayce Ramsay got the start for the Broncos and stopped 26 of 29 in the loss.

Two big divisional games are around the corner for the Broncos. They will have a home and home against the Battleford Northstars staring on Friday, January 4th in North Battleford. The Broncos are 3-0 against the Northstars, two of which needed overtime to be decided.