Despite another tick in the loss column for the Broncos, this young hockey club is continuing to work hard and build towards a rebirth next season.

Tuesday night in their second last game of the season at the Elgar Petersen Arena the Broncos were out shot and outclassed by the league's top squad, the Battlefords North Stars en route to a 6-3 loss. The Stars have won every game between the two clubs this year, only one has been closer than three goals. Early on in the season Humboldt appeared star struck by the Finning division runaway champions. That mindset has changed according to Broncos' leading goal scorer Daniel McKitrick.

"Obviously it was a much better effort but I think we just skated way harder. At the beginning of the year I think we were sort of scared of them but now we have nothing to lose."

Early on the second last meeting of the season between the two clubs it looked like it would be another Battlefords rout as the visitors took a 2-0 lead on goals by Coby Downs and Rory Davidson. Davidson's was scored while the Stars were shorthanded.

McKitrick would get the Broncos back into the hockey game scoring his 20th and 21 goals of the season. The 18 year-old becomes the first Bronco since Cody Pongracz and Joey Davies had 22 and 27 respectively in 2012-13.

"It feels real good but it's not the year our team wanted. It's good to score 20 and get on the score board," the 18 year-old Cole Harbor, Nunavut product said of the plateau after the game.

The Stars would take over in the middle period scoring three times including a pair from Igor Leonenko. Dustin Gorgi would also beat Ryan LaRochelle.

Logan Schatz would tap in a rebound late in the second on a power-play. His 11th was helped out by Trevor Posch and Chris Van Os-Shaw.

Brayden Buziak would add another in the third for the Battlefords for their sixth win over the Broncos this year.

LaRochelle was busy again, he allowed six goals on 41 shots. Ryan Rewerts picked up the win in the Stars cage stopping 17/20.

The Broncos were 1/4 on the PP, one better than the Stars 1/5.

The Broncos will close their regular season home schedule versus the Melville Millionaires on Friday night. Face-off is 7:30.

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

In the other lone Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League game Tuesday, Flin Flon shut-out LaRonge 3-0.