On Tuesday night at the Elgar Petersen Arena the Broncos will play their 34th game of the season, that will tie the green and gold for games played with the Battlefords Stars who occupy the top spot in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League standings.

Humboldt will begin a stretch of three games in five days to close the pre-Christmas portion of the schedule. Considered the mid-season break, by the time the Broncos suit up in Melfort Saturday night(KMK Sales' Broncos' hockey, 7:15/7:30) they will be seven past the midway point.

Needless to say they would like to close with a good week and get on a roll before they resume play in the new year.

Last weekend Humboldt put together back to back wins over Yorkton and Weyburn, they were then disposed of again by the Stars on the road. Despite the 6-0 loss interim captain Jarrett Fontaine says they are playing their best hockey so far.

"I think we're starting to realize how we should play and a lot of our games have been a lot more competitive," the 20 year-old hometown product said ahead of Tuesday's pre-game skate. "I know we lost 6-0 but that's not how the game went down, it was definitely a lot closer game than that."

The Hawks have won all three games this season ahead of Tuesday's contest, the most recent a 4-3 win over a Broncos squad playing without captain Anthony Kapelke and their first game without workhorse Greg Moro on defense. 19 year-old Connor Swystun has become the leader followed closely by 1996 born Corey Dambrauskas. 19 year-old utility man Josh Bergen has picked up his minutes as well.

Fontaine is happy with all their play of late.

"The back end being a little bit younger, a lot the guys keep it simple and that's the kind of hockey we need to play right now. No one is trying to do too much and that contributes to our success."

On Friday they will welcome the SJHL's reigning champs, the Melfort Mustangs for their first visit to the EPA, surprisingly they have met just once, a 4-1 Melfort win on October 23rd at the Northern Lights Palace.

Fontaine says the Mustangs is a good test leading up to the break.

"We know they are a good team but I think with the rivalry between Humboldt and Melfort going into holidays, I think there will be a little extra motivation. Sometimes those last two games are hard to play, guys are thinking about the Christmas break but I think it being Melfort the guys are going to want it a little bit more and it's a good way to end our first half."

All three games are 7:30 face-offs. Visit humboldtbroncos.com for tickets.

The Broncos won't return to action until January 6th in Notre Dame.

You can hear more from Fontaine below in his interview with Bolt FM's Clark Stork below.