By TERRY PUGH
The Humboldt Broncos and Warman Wolverines rained on each other’s home-opener parade last weekend.
The Broncos rolled into the Warman Home Centre Communiplex on Friday, September 18 and stole a 4-3 victory over the Wolverines; only to have the Warman squad return the favour by beating the Humboldt team 5-2 at Elgar Peterson Arena on Saturday, September 19.
The weekend split set the tone for what promises to be a heated rivalry this winter between the two communities, located about an hour’s drive apart. The Broncos, with their long tradition and proven track record, definitely have the edge when it comes to loud and loyal fans who travel well.
But, after some growing pains in their first season in Warman, the Wolverines look like they’ll be a very competitive team this year and are quickly growing their own devoted young fan base.
In Friday’s game, the Broncos jumped out to an early 2-0 lead early in the first period on goals by Cody Farrell and Boston Schmidt. They added to their cushion four and a half minutes into the third frame when Connor Miller scored to make it 3-0. With the Humboldt fans making up at least a third of the crowd, it was starting to sound like a Broncos home game.
But, the Wolverines’ faithful finally had something to cheer about when Ezekiel Lambert scored for Warman at the 14:03 mark of the second period, with assists from Sawyer Scheidt and Ryder Gilroy. The Wolverines scratched and clawed their way back in the third, outshooting their opponents and eventually tying the game on goals by Bennett Leibel and Brett Woodard. Gilroy and Ben Morton assisted on Woodard’s marker.
It looked like the match was destined for overtime, but Humboldt’s Oliver Phillips capitalized on a turnover and scored to give the visitors the victory with a little over a minute left in regulation.
Warman goaltender Luke Brunen turned aside 25 of 29 shots in the game, while Humboldt netminder Matthew Bradley faced 41 shots.
In the return engagement on Saturday in Humboldt, the Wolverines seized the momentum in the first period and grabbed a 2-0 lead on the strength of goals by Owen Parks (assist by Ethan Dundas and Jordan Blanchette) and Carter Bergen (assist by Trey Markus).
The middle frame saw Humboldt’s Gabriel Kaminski and Brody Bradshaw get their team on the board, but Warman’s Sawyer Scheidt (assists from Trey Markus and Riley Rich-Holden) and Ethan Dundas (assist from Theron Bensler) replied for the visitors to retain the two-goal edge. Warman’s Jordan Blanchette (assists by Theron Bensler and Peyton Allard) iced the cake for the Wolverines’ victory with a goal midway through the final period.
Luke Brunen made 37 saves for the Wolverines while Broncos’ goalie Bradley Matthew made 27 saves.
The Wolverines hosted the Yorkton Terriers on Tuesday, September 22, but results were not available as of the Gazette press deadline. The team hits the road this weekend, with games on Friday, September 25 in Nipawin against the Hawks, and on Sunday, September 27 in North Battleford against the Stars.