The Broncos believe they are a better hockey club than a year ago.

That appeared to be true, although it was just one game. Saturday night Humboldt fired 47 shots on Riley Higdon getting a handful past him in a 5-3 victory over the Notre Dame Hounds.

781 fans were on hand at the Elgar Petersen Arena as the Broncos opened their 2016-17 season with an entertaining 60 minutes.

Assistant Coach Brayden Klimosko didn't have much to say on the bad side.

"I don't know the last time we had that many shots in a game and their goalie made some huge saves as well so we played well. I was really happy for the first game, obviously there is a lot of things you can shore up but overall we're pretty happy."

Notre Dame did take an early lead in the game, Tyler Podgerenko floated a seeing eye wrist shot past Garret Mason making his Broncos' debut in goal. That came just 2:30 in.

The Broncos would respond before the first was out, Chris Van Os-Shaw buried a rebound past Higdon while on a five-on-three man advantage, Trevor Posch was credited with the lone assist.

The Broncos would jump out to a two goal lead in the second. Nicolas Malenica snapped his first of the season over Higdon's right shoulder making it 2-1, Brayden Camrud and Antonio DiPoalo each earned their first Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League points.

Logan Schatz scored his first of the the night, that also coming with a man advantage, Connor Swystun picked up the lone assist.

The Hounds would draw close again, Colby Brandt made a nice play driving to the net and poking it through Mason's legs making it 3-2 going to the final break.

The Broncos would reclaim the two goal cushion once again, Schatz would get his second, Posch and Swystun picked up their second points of the night.

20 year-old newcomer Luke Kempf would collect his fist as a Bronco as well making it 5-2 from Dante Raposo and Laramie Kostelansky.

Cole Kirkup added one late past Mason but that was it for the scoring.

Mason was 27/30 in his first win.

The game consisted of plenty of minor penalties, Humboldt was 2/11 on the power-play, Notre Dame finished 0/8.

"Overall it felt like we had the puck most of the game and when you have the puck obviously you aren't going to get scored on very often," Klimosko continued.

"We really dominated them tonight on puck possession and hopefully we can tomorrow. It's just one game but it's nice to see, it's a great start."

They return the favour Sunday in Wilcox, the game will begin on 107.5 Bolt FM at 5:45 with the pre-game show. Face-off is 6 o'clock.

You can hear Klimosko's complete post-game comments as well as Swystun who joined Clark Stork during the first intermission.

Elsewhere Saturday night in the SJHL, Melfort beat LaRonge 5-2, the Battlefords downed Kindersley 5-2, Flin Flon shut out Nipawin 2-0, Weyburn tamed the Terriers 4-1 and Estevan bankrupted the Melville Millionaires 4-2.