p u C
Capture the Spirit of the RBC Cup
Photo courtesy of Hockey Canada
Page 2 CUPTURE THE SPIRIT - HUMBOLDT JOURNAL May 5 - 13, 2012
Broncos win first national championship in 2003 by Jodi Schellenberg Journal Staff Writer
It was the first time but not the last. The Humboldt Broncos won the RBC Cup in 2003,
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The 2003 Humboldt Broncos raise the RBC Cup after winning the final over the Camrose Kodiaks in Charlottetown, PEI.
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the first time the team had the honour of being named the national champions. It was a great season for the team, winning both the Provincial play-offs and the ANAVET Cup before heading to Charlottetown, PEI, to play in the national championship. “I remember the whole year was such a battle,” said 2003 Bronco Orrin Hergott. During the season, they played about 100 games, said Hergott, to bring them to the RBC Cup. “Once we were at the tournament, it flew by,” he said. The team played their first game for the cup against the Wellington Dukes on May 4. It was an easy first game for the Broncos, who won the game 4-1, with goals scored by Scott Degelman, Brad Erickson and two by Josh Podaima. It was the second game against the Lennoxville Cougars that proved to be a challenge. The game started out in favour of the Broncos, with Craig Olynick scoring a goal at 10:36 of the first period. Minutes after Olynick’s goal, Lennoxville scored two goals, taking the lead. Before the end of the period, Bronco Jeremy Wray slipped one past the Lennoxville goaltender at 17:46 to tie up the game. In the second and third periods, the game continued in a similar fashion. Hergott scored during a power play at 1:19 of the second, followed just over a minute later by a Lennoxville goal. In the first half of the third, Lennoxville took the lead with a goal at 8:54, but Keith Reade of the Broncos tied it up before the end of the period. This forced the game into overtime. The teams played a full overtime period, with no points for either team. Players felt the pressure, leading to a game misconduct for Degelman at 4:11 of the second overtime period. This gave Lennoxville an advantage and they scored at the six-minute mark of the period, winning the game 5-4. That loss made the Broncos decide to fight even harder to win. Their third game of the series was played against the hometown team, the Charlottetown Abbies. The Broncos dominated the game. Two goals were scored in the first period by Keith Reade at 4:49 and Kris Kasper on a power play at 6:07. Charlottetown tied up the game before the end of the first with goals at 9:58 and 17:40. In the second period, Charlottetown started off strong, getting a one-point lead at 2:44. The Broncos soon remedied the situation, gaining five points in the 10 minutes. Goals were made by Olynick on a power play at 5:52, Brad Erickson at 6:28, Brad Podaima at 8:49 and 15:48 on power plays and Hergott at 16:25, again on a power play. Charlottetown managed to get one goal in the final minute of the period. The Broncos added one more to their lead in the third with a power play goal by Colin Johnson at 7:14. Charlottetown only managed to get one more goal at 14:41. Broncos won the game 8-5. Game four was another tough loss for the Broncos, this time against the Camrose Kodiaks. Only one goal was scored during the first period by Camrose. Camrose kept the lead until 1:07 of the second period, when Kris Kasper scored for the Broncos. After tying up the game, things went south for the
Broncos, with player Shaw Tuck receiving a game misconduct. This gave Camrose the opportunity to score two goals — one at 9:05 on a power play and another at 10:27. The Broncos tried to come back in the third period, with two goals for the Broncos at 5:34 and 12:21 by Erickson and Mark Bradshaw, but it wasn’t enough to win the game. Camrose slipped one past the Bronco goaltender at 17:51, winning the game 5-3. Both B.J. Skalpsky and Russell Gehlen were in net during the game. The Broncos had earned a spot in the semi-final, which they played against Wellington. It was a tougher contest than their first game of the series facing the same team. The game started out in favour of Wellington, who scored at 11:14 of the first. Bronco Keith Reade tied up the game with a goal 14:52. In the second, Scott Degelman scored at the twominute mark, giving the Broncos a one-point lead. Wellington didn’t tie up the game until the end of the second. Humboldt was on the offensive in the third period, adding to their goals at 17:21. They held the lead for the remaining minutes, earning them the right to play in the final. Matt Brown and Kris Kasper helped the Broncos take the lead in that final against Camrose Kodiaks, each scoring a goal in the first period. Camrose only managed to sneak in one goal in the last 11 seconds of the that period. The second period was heavy with checking and physical play, resulting in eight power plays but no goals. Brown managed to get one more goal in to give the Broncos a two-goal lead in the final moments of the third period. The Broncos won the game 3-1, earning them the title of national champions. The tournament was a great time for the players. “It was exciting to go all the way and nice to play some different teams (that we didn’t play during the regular season),” said Gehlen, one of the Broncos’ goalies in 2003. The players still remember the excitement of winning the Cup. “It was awesome,” said Olynick. Hergott, Gehlen and Olynick grew up in Humboldt, so winning the cup for their hometown made the experience even more exciting, they said. “It was almost surreal — it doesn’t hit you right away (that you have won),” explained Olynick. After winning the Cup, all the players continued to play hockey in some form, said Gehlen, although not everyone went on to play professionally. With the RBC Cup now hosted in Humboldt this year, the former players are excited for the current team to be able to play in the national tournament at home. “Being able to win at home would be very special,” said Hergott. Humboldt had put in a bid to host the 2003 RBC Cup, but Charlottetown won the bid that year. Hergott said it is nice to see the tournament now in Humboldt. “I hope the guys understand what an opportunity it is to play at home,” said Olynick.
Page 3 CUPTURE THE SPIRIT - HUMBOLDT JOURNAL May 5 - 13, 2012
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Page 5 CUPTURE THE SPIRIT - HUMBOLDT JOURNAL May 5 - 13, 2012
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Portage Terriers
Photo courtesy of the Weyburn Review Ph Team: 2 - Andrew Schriver, 3 - Sam Caldwell, 4 - Brandon Leonardo, 7 - Connor Tresham, 9 - Brown MacKenzie, 12 - Brett MacLean, 13 - Nick Huard, 14 - Bradley Greene, 15 - Tim Campbell “A”, 16 - Robert Visca “A”, 17 - Tim Rose, 18 - Phillip Fife, 20 - Noah Zilbert AP, 21 - Evan Carmody, 22 - Ben Miller, 23 - Zach Shannon, 24 - Jake Logan, 26 - Andrew Langan “C”, 27 - Chris Rygus, 28 - Ryan Purvis, 61 - Ben MacSwain, 71 - Colton Stairs, 1 - Sam Renault, 35 - Matt Murphy President: Andrew McCain Head Coach/GM: Jason Tatarnic Associate Coach: Kyle Adams General Manager: Danny Braun Trainer/Athletic Therapist: Bryan Hamilton
Team: 2 - Kameron Ballas, 3 - Nathan Hudema, 5 - David Stumborg, 6 - Jonathan Parisien, 8 - Adam Zbitniff, 9 - Neil Landry “A”, 10 - Robbie Ciolfi, 11 - Joey Davies, 12 - David Miazga, 13 - Emrik Guillemette, 14 - Taylor Johnson “C”, 15 - Ryan Marshall, 16 - Adam Antkowiak, 17 - Josh Roach, 18 - John Lawrence, 19 - Matt Glowa, 20 - Logan Sproule, 21 - Mathew Backhouse “A”, 22 - Rhett Blackmur, 23 - Cody Pettapiece, 24 - Taylor Duzan, 26 - Andrew Johnston, 27 - Andrew Herle, 28 - Chase Wharton, 76 - Brett Pisio, 1 - Colin Dzijacky, 30 - Matt Hrynkiw Head Coach/GM: Dean Brockman Assistant Coaches: Tim Klimosko, Murray Brookbank Trainer: Brett McCorkel
Team: 2 - Conor Faupel, 3 - Tyler Anton, 4 - Dylan Butler, 6 - Adam Robson, 7 - Brett Fargher, 9 - Tyler Larson, 11 - Brandon Lauder, 12 - Riley Hay, 13 - Adam Restoule, 14 - Mike Gemmill, 15 - Yvan Pattyn “A”, 16 - Brent Wold, 17 - Brendon Fornwald, 18 - Brendan Harms, 19 - Tyler Harland, 20 - Cody Kostecki, 21 - Tanner Waldvogel, 22 - Kajon McKay “A”, 23 - Shaq Merasty, 24 - Justin Slobozian, 27 - Cody Nelson, 29 - Andrew Wiebe, 1 - Adam Iwan, 35 - Shea Cooper Head Coach/GM - Blake Spiller Assistant Coaches: Paul Harland, Jim Tkachyk, Dennis McNish Equipment Manager/Trainer: Geno Romanov
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Penticton Vees
Photo courtesy of Jim Eagan Photography
Photo courtesy of Tony Veltri
Team: 2 - Fraser Turner, 4 - Corey Jackson, 5 - Kristopher Barclay, 6 - Joshua Hicks, 8 - Kurtis Barbarie, 10 - Jeremy Solomon, 11 - Gregory Sartoretto, 12 - Jake Wright, 14 - Kevin Michelcavage, 15 - Kurtis Grommi, 16 - Derek Battagin, 17 - Darcy Casola, 18 - Bradly Pascall, 19 - Matthew Amadio, 21 - James Delayer, 22 - Joey Couture, 24 - Dylan Connolly, 30 - John Kleinhans, 35 - Remo Febbraro, 41 - Cody Zorzi, 61 - Brett Campbell, 88 - Nicholas Romano, 91 - Michelangelo Sartoretto, 1 - Brian Kment AP, 3 - Michael Caruso AP, 20 - Joey Miller AP, 25 - Ryan Vendramin AP Coach: Preston Mizzi Assistant Coaches: Jamie Henderson, Warren Lavoy Goaltender Coach: Domenic Sorrenti General Manager: Kevin Cain Trainers: Matthias Hammerl, Noel Stephen
Team: 4 - Nick Buchanan, 5 - Mike Reilly, 6 - Zach Urban, 8 - Ryan Reilly, 10 - Grant Nicholson, 11 - Chad Bannor, 12 - Wade Murphy, 19 - Cody DePourcq, 20 - Connor Reilly, 21 - Logan Johnston, 22 - Mario Lucia, 24 - Curtis Loik, 26 - Travis St. Denis, 27 - DJ Jones, 28 - Kyle Beaulieu, 71 - Bryce Gervais, 77 - Troy Stecher, 91 - Steven Fogarty, 1 - Michael Gartieg, 33 - Chad Katunar Head Coach/GM: Fred Harbinson Assistant Coach: Michael Hengen Assistant Coach & Recruiting Coordinator: Steve Cawley Assistant Coach / Video Coordinator: Mat Sells Consultant: Ed Lebler Athletic Trainer and Equipment Manager: Geoff Carter Equipment Manager: Don Cameron
FRIDAY, MAY 4
Back row (from left): Darrell Lessmeister, Al Smith, Rob Eichorst, Gene Gerspacher, Bruce Irwin, Rob Muench, Wayne Reineke. Middle row: Kevin Dow, Hugh Jenkins, Jeff Bunko, Bob Johnston, Jim Warden, Aaron Lukan, Ross Ruedig, Jason Blechinger, Jodi Smith, Lorrie Bunko. Front row: Malcolm Eaton, Sandy Flory, Karen Dow, Deb Haryett, Cecile Buehler, Janice Ruedig, Leisl Lefebvre, Allison Eichorst, Jocelyn Blechinger. Missing from photo: Jamie Brockman, Dave Mortensen, Susan Saunders, Aaron Behiel, Bob Pitzel, Brian Grest, Lee Dufort, Steve Slipetz, Brad Leier, Jordan Schindel, Dean Brockman, Lawrence Dunne, Carol Jenkins, Jennifer Fafard.
RBC CUP 2012 CALENDAR OF EVENT EVEN T S
*
SATURDAY, MAY 5 SUNDAY, MAY 6 MONDAY, MAY 7 TUESDAY, MAY 8 WEDNESDAY, MAY 9 THURSDAY, MAY 10 FRIDAY, MAY 11 SATURDAY, MAY 12 SUNDAY, MAY 13
1:00pm-5:00pm (Humboldt Museum) Humboldt & Area Hockey History Display 5:00pm-8:30pm (PotashCorp Events Center) Beer Gardens 7:30pm-8:15pm (Elgar Petersen Arena) RBC Cup Opening Ceremonies
1:00pm-5:00pm (Humboldt Museum) Humboldt & Area Hockey History Display 2:00pm-9:30pm (PotashCorp Events Center) Beer Gardens 3:00pm start (Elgar Petersen Arena) RBC Cup Game One: Central vs. Pacific free admission 5:15pm-7:30pm (Elgar Petersen Arena front entrance) Humboldt Scouts Kick-Off BBQ 9:00pm-2:00am (PotashCorp Events Center) Codie Prevost Cabaret 7:30pm start (Elgar Petersen Arena) Rockin’ country with this award-winning Saskatchewan RBC Cup Game Two: East vs. Humboldt recording artist. $20.00 at the Door (no advance tickets). Minors MUST be accompanied by their parent/guardian. 10:00pm-2:00am (PotashCorp Events Center) Heirloom Cadillac Cabaret Rock, pop, & country spanning the rock ‘n’ roll era. $10.00 at the door (free with your valid May 5 game ticket). Minors MUST be accompanied by their parent/guardian.
1:00pm-5:00pm (Humboldt Museum) Humboldt & Area Hockey History Display 2:00pm-9:30pm (PotashCorp Events Center) Beer Gardens 3:00pm start (Elgar Petersen Arena) RBC Cup Game Three: Central vs. West 7:30pm start (Elgar Petersen Arena) RBC Cup Game Four: Pacific vs. Humboldt 10:00pm-2:00am (PotashCorp Events Center) DJ Spotlight Music
$5.00 at the door (free with your valid May 6 game ticket). Minors MUST be accompanied by their parent/guardian.
1:00pm-5:00pm (Humboldt Museum) Humboldt & Area Hockey History Display 2:00pm-2:00am (PotashCorp Events Center) Beer Gardens 7:30pm start (Elgar Petersen Arena) RBC Cup Game Five: East vs. West
11:30am-1:30pm (Westminister United Church) Team Mexico $5.00 Soup/Bun Luncheon 1:00pm-5:00pm (Humboldt Museum) Humboldt & Area Hockey History Display 2:00pm-2:00am (PotashCorp Events Center) Beer Gardens 3:00pm start (Elgar Petersen Arena) RBC Cup Game Six: Central vs. Humboldt 7:30pm start (Elgar Petersen Arena) RBC Cup Game Seven: Pacific vs. East
11:00am-1:00pm (Humboldt Museum) Humboldt Visual Arts Council BBQ 11:00am-4:00pm (Humboldt Museum) Open House & Hockey History Display 2:00pm-9:30pm (PotashCorp Events Center) Beer Gardens 7:30pm start (Elgar Petersen Arena) RBC Cup Game Eight: West vs. Pacific 10:00pm-2:00am (PotashCorp Events Center) Spy 66 Cabaret
1:00pm-5:00pm (Humboldt Museum) Humboldt & Area Hockey History Display 2:00pm-9:30pm (PotashCorp Events Center) Beer Gardens 3:00pm start (Elgar Petersen Arena) RBC Cup Game Nine: Central vs. East 5:45pm-6:45pm (Humboldt Collegiate) HCI/Special O “Celebrity” Floor Hockey 7:30pm start (Elgar Petersen Arena) RBC Cup Game Ten: West vs. Humboldt An energetic blend of punk-influenced originals and rock/ 10:00pm-2:00am (PotashCorp Events Center) punk covers. $15.00 at the door (no advance tickets) or free with your valid May 9 game ticket. Minors MUST be DJ Darren Yungmann accompanied by their parent/guardian.
$5.00 at the door (free with your valid May 10 game ticket). Minors MUST be accompanied by their parent/guardian.
1:00pm-5:00pm (Humboldt Museum) Humboldt & Area Hockey History Display 5:00pm-8:30pm (PotashCorp Events Center) CJHL RBC Cup Awards Banquet
$40.00. Advance tickets only. Purchase by May 4. Available at Uniplex lobby reception. Minors MUST be accompanied by their parent/guardian. 9:00pm-10:00pm (PotashCorp Events Center)
Don’t Mind Us
Improv comedy duo. Admission is $10.00 at the door (free with your banquet ticket). Minors MUST be accompanied by their parent/ guardian. 10:00pm-2:00am (PotashCorp Events Center)
1:00pm-5:00pm (Humboldt Museum) Humboldt & Area Hockey History Display 1:00pm-8:00pm (PotashCorp Events Center) Beer Gardens 2:00pm start (Elgar Petersen Arena) RBC Cup Semifinal #1: Teams TDB 6:00pm start (Elgar Petersen Arena) RBC Cup Semifinal #2: Teams TDB 8:30pm-2:00am (PotashCorp Events Center) 40 oz. Philosophy Cabaret
2:00pm-TBD (PotashCorp Events Center) Beer Gardens Start time TBA (Elgar Petersen Arena) RBC Cup Final TBD-2:00pm (PotashCorp Events Center) DJ Spotlight Music
$5.00 at the door (free with your valid May 13 game ticket). Minors MUST be accompanied by their parent/guardian.
A mix of rock & pop, country & country rock. $10.00 at the door (free with your valid May 12 game ticket). Minors MUST be accompanied by their parent/guardian.
DJ Darren Yungmann
$5.00 at the door (free with your banquet or comedy show ticket). Minors MUST be accompanied by their parent/guardian.
(*subject to change after publication)
Page 6 CUPTURE THE SPIRIT - HUMBOLDT JOURNAL May 5 - 13, 2012
Heartbreak, victory and the Cardiac Kids: 2006-09 The Broncos lost that series to the Steelers in Game 7 quadruple overtime It’s almost impossible to talk about — a heartbreaking end to a fantastic the 2008 RBC Cup-winning Humboldt season. Broncos without also mentioning the But the Broncos who did not graduteams in 2007 and 2009 — teams that ate from the team that year seemed to came so close to victory, they almost got take that loss as a learning experience. to swipe it with their tongues. They set their jaws and focused on tryReally, the journey to the 2008 RBC ing again in 2007-08. Cup victory began in the fall of 2006, They tried, and they succeeded. when head coach and general manager Before the season even started, the Dean Brockman and assistant coaches team, led by captain Russ Nielsen, set an Tim Klimosko and Murray Brookbank ambitious goal — to have under 10 losses put together a stellar team, filled with in the regular season. promising rookies and rock-solid veterThey achieved it. ans surrounding a core of players who They headed into the Selection Series, had been together since their minor the first round of playoffs, with 48 wins, hockey days and had scored an unde- nine losses and one shoot-out loss. feated midget season together just a Another goal involved the ANAVET couple of seasons before. Cup. It was in the spring of 2007 that the They wanted to win it this time. Broncos knocked on the door that they The ultimate goal, of course, was to would later bust down to get to the RBC end their season in Cornwall, Ontario, Cup. the host of the 2007 RBC Cup. Under the leadership of team capThey did it, Brockman said at the end tain Colin Wilson, and with the back- of the season, as a team. ing of 20-year-old goaltender Nathan Every goal was a team-oriented goal. Heinen, not only did the Broncos end There was no quest for individual honthe regular season in first place in the ours. And yet they arrived anyway. Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, Bronco goalie Taylor Nelson had they went on to win the Selection series, stepped into the big skates left empty by the northern semifinal, the northern Heinen. And he filled them with style. final and the provincial final series Nelson broke the league shut-out rebefore taking on the Selkirk Steelers for cord that year, and other players on the the ANAVET Cup. team also earned awards. But those were merely byproducts of their Matt Rintoual Brett Kuglin team play, Brockman 2007 Scott Schroeder Russ Nielsen said. They came handBroncos Steven Schroeder Josh Garneau in-hand with achieving Justin Stoski Matt Kirzinger Colin Wilson the team’s main goals. Voldy Dashko Brayden Klimosko Nathan Heinen The team posted Evan Bryksa Blair Wourms Taylor Nelson huge winning streaks Jordan Schindel Josh Brown Cory Knaus in the regular season, Laurent Benjamin Tory Allan Brady Heintz including a 16-game Mathieu Boutin Tyler Feakes Brady Wacker win streak in December by Keri Dalman Journal editor
The 2008 Humboldt Broncos celebrate their RBC Cup victory on the ice in Cornwall, Ontario. photo by Alison Berk, Imagin Photography his “one-game” philosophy. and January. They just had to win one game each But they didn’t just win. They played fast, smart, energetic hockey that pretty night. Not three. All they had to worry much spoiled the hockey fans in this area. about was how they played that night. It was something that seemed to resoAnd over the course of the season, their play just got better. By the time they got nate with the team, and they seemed to to playoffs, they were in top form, and remember that they had carried on a 16-game win-streak. Winning one game at the top of the league. They won the Selection Series and wasn’t all that hard. chose to play the Nipawin Hawks, the After wins in Games 5 and 6, it all fourth-ranked team in the province, in came down to Game 7 at home, in front the first round. The Broncos won that of an absolutely enormous hometown series over the Hawks, then the next over crowd. Bronco captain Nielsen rethe Flin Flon Bombers. marked that he had never seen the rink Next, they played the Kindersley Klip- so full in the years he’d played hockey pers for the SJHL title. This was a series in Humboldt. the coach called “interesting” and fans continued on page 7 called “nerve-wracking.” Matt Rintoul Justin Stoski The series went right 2008 Steven Schroeder Tory Allan to seven games, after the Broncos Scott Schroeder Shawn Hunter Broncos lost games one Mitch Peeke Tanner Vandesype Russ Nielsen and two by single goals. Jared Leier Brayden Klimosko Taylor Nelson They won Game 3 at Josh Garneau Edward Gale Andrew Bodnarchuk home, then the Klippers Dane Lindskog Cory Knaus Matt Kirzinger won Game 4 in triple Mitch Stretch Taylor Piller Jordan Schindel overtime. Bryce Walker Laurent Benjamin Kyle Fontaine Heading into Game 5, Voldy Dashko Brady Wacker Brockman gave his team
Page 7 CUPTURE THE SPIRIT - HUMBOLDT JOURNAL May 5 - 13, 2012
Team effort behind championship seasons continued from page 6 With fans pretty much hanging from the rafters, the Broncos skated away with the game. Kindersley got rolled over by the Bronco machine, and Humboldt won 8-2. But winning the SJHL was just step one of a three-step plan. The Broncos had bigger fish to fry — the Terriers. And fry them they did. After four wins in four games, the Broncos hoisted the ANAVET Cup in victory in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. It was almost too easy, compared to the battle that series had been the year before. A week and a half later, the Broncos were in Cornwall, at the RBC Cup. They won their first round-robin game, but fell to the Camrose Kodiaks in their second. The adversity of that loss, Brockman felt later, was a good thing for the team that had just won eight games in a row. The Broncos lost their third game of the tournament to the Oakville Blades, but came back to win their last round-robin game over the Weeks Crushers to stay in the tournament. To win that game, they turned again to their “one game, one win” philosophy. Brockman was confident his team would be in the final, and he said so at the time. “I said through the Kindersley series that I could feel it (that they would win),” he told the Journal at the time. “I really felt confident with my group. They’re so resilient... I wanted everyone at home to realize
2009 Broncos Brady Wacker Andrew Bodnarchuk Mathieu LaRochelle
Dmitri Levin Garrett Leedahl Steve Shroeder Taylor Piller
Nick Keller Colton Allan Spencer Braaten Matt Kirzinger Kendrew Friesen Kenton Valliant Cameron Gibson Tanner Vandesype
Shawn Hunter Nick Kalnicki
how confident I dent about a win was. When you the whole way change your through. path from who “I felt I could you are, it makes enjoy it,” he said. everyone realize “I felt we could what you’re saywin.” The Broning.” cos, he felt, were Humboldt did the better team beat Cornwall, on the ice. and they faced “The guys kept Camrose in the their composure final — their and character 87th game of the prevailed.... To season, and what watch all of them turned out to be jump on the ice their 70th win. (when time ran Adrenaline out) was incredroaring, the Bronible. It was so decos were up to served,” Brocktheir usual high man stated. speed against They won the Kodiaks, and their national they got up 1-0 championship on them in the as a team; every first period. line had their They held time on the ice, onto that lead for and everyone the entire game. contributed to Nelson made their success. a heart-stopping “The beautisave in the final ful thing about seconds and the Team captain Brady Wacker celebrates w i n n i n g t h i s B ro n c o s w e re the Humboldt Broncos SJHL champion- (national title),” national cham- ship win in 2009 — their third in a row. Brockman said, pions. “is that everyone “I knew composure and communica- at some point in time made a contribution were going to be tion.” the difference,” BrockThey rolled four lines all year long. Each Mitch Peeke man said at the time. He night, a different line stepped up. Scott Schroeder told the team that they “No one can shut down four lines when Bryce Walker couldn’t let their emo- they’re all rolling,” Klimosko said at the Leo Lacoursiere tions get the best of them, year-end banquet. Kyle Cowan or take undisciplined A good number of the players from Dane Linskog penalties in the fi nal, and 2008 — 12 in total, including 2008-09 team Derek Schemenauer they didn’t. captain Brady Wacker — were back in the Joel Belair Brockman followed Elgar Petersen Arena the next fall, looking Tory Allan suit, keeping his compo- for another trip to the RBC. sure, and feeling confiDubbed the Cardiac Kids, The Come-
back Kids, and the Drama Kings during their playoff run due to their last-second wins and never-say-die attitude, the 2008-09 Broncos did what few expected them to do at the beginning of the season — make it back to another national championship. The Cardiac Kids took the community on a wild ride that year. The team, built around the players who had been there for three seasons — twins Scott and Steven Schroeder, Matt Kirzinger, Wacker and Tory Allan, blew through the regular season, posting 45 wins — five over their goal of 40. Humboldt clinched first place in the league early, won over the Nipawin Hawks and Flin Flon Bombers in the first two rounds of playoffs, and then beat the Melville Millionaires in five games to claim the provincial title. Then they faced the Portage Terriers once again in the ANAVET series. Portage led the series three games to one after four. It was in Game 5 that the Broncos turned things around. Humboldt won that game 12-2, then won Game 6 in overtime, forcing a Game 7. True to their nickname, the Broncos were down 4-1 going into the third period in Game 7 before a five-minute penalty to Portage gave them an opportunity. They scored three goals to even the score, the last with 47 seconds left in the third, and in overtime, Bronco Nick Kalnicki got the game-winner. “They just never quit,” Brockman said of his team. That sent the team to the RBC Cup in Victoria, where they once again made it through to the final. However, they lost the final in a 2-0 heartbreaker to the Vernon Vipers. “I’m proud of our guys,” Brockman said after the final. The last of those longtime Broncos graduated from the team that spring, leaving the coaching team to rebuild, and fans with memories of the magic they gave them for three spectacular seasons.
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Former Broncos coach sticks it out in Europe by Elodie Adams Journal Staff Writer
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From 1983-1987, Bernie Lynch coached the Humboldt Broncos. Today he is still coaching junior hockey professionally — only he’s doing it in Europe. “Canadians may think that coaching hockey in Europe is exotic,” said Lynch. “I don’t see it as exotic so much as doing my job. I mean yes, it has its benefits, you get to travel and see places.” In a career that has spanned 39 years, Lynch has coached in seven countries and just finished his third European tour. Most recently, he has been coaching two teams in Denmark. One of the teams won the national championships this year, and then went on to win the gold medal at a tournament in Paris. Lynch began to coach hockey when he was a student at college in Ontario. He travelled to Europe in the ‘70s, a young Canadian with a zest for playing hockey. A visit to Norway changed his life. “I was staying at this little hostel in Oslo, and there was an outdoor rink nearby where some guys were playing hockey, and I went out to watch,” Lynch told the Journal. “And the coach had a heart attack, so I went out and assisted him because I had been trained in CPR and knew what to do.” Although he probably didn’t realize it at the time, that act lead to his future with hockey in Europe. “Fortunately,” continued Lynch, “the guy survived. And the next morning, the president of the hockey club of the man who he had just helped invited him to stay at his place with his family, and he ended up staying a month. Lynch was also invited to come back and play hockey with them the next year, which he did. “I ended up staying for 10 years,” he said.
When he could no longer play hockey, he began to coach. It was a chance meeting with then University of Saskatchewan Huskies coach Dave King that brought Lynch to Humboldt. Former Humboldt T h e y m e t a t Broncos coach Berthe 1983 World nie Lynch lives and Hockey Cham- coaches junior hockp i o n s h i p s i n ey in Europe. Leningrad, where King was coaching Canada’s national junior team and Lynch was coaching Norway’s. “He saw me coaching in Norway and complimented me on the job I had done,” said Lynch. “He said we needed coaches like me back in Canada. Then he contacted me and said that the team in Humboldt was looking for a coach.” Over the years, Lynch has probably spent as much time coaching in North America as he has in Europe. In Europe, Lynch says Canadian coaches like him are in demand because they teach a hybrid of the North American game and the European game. The day after he spoke with the Journal, Lynch was heading back to coach in Sweden, where he had already coached for two years. On a closing note, the former Humboldt Broncos coach says he has fond memories of his time here. “I’d like to say hello to all my friends in Humboldt, and all the Broncos fans,” Lynch said sincerely. “It was one of the greatest centres I ever coached in, and I remember those days fondly.”
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