The Humboldt Broncos punched their ticket to the second round following a commanding 6-2 win over the Nipawin Hawks on Friday night. 

The two teams went neck and neck in the opening period with aggressive play.

At 4:07 in the second, captain Ethan Zielke broke the floodgates for the Broncos with assists from Matt Van Blaricom and Tim Kim. Xavier Roy and Daylan Wiegel followed up in the second.

Nipawin tried to get back in it late in the second, but Broncos opened up with another pair off the sticks of Roy and Cage Newans. 

Nipawin had one more marker before Sam Marburg capped the Broncos’ scoring and closed the books on round one.

The Broncos second round opponents will become clearer after a Tuesday night game 7 between the Flin Flon Bombers and the Estevan Bruins. The Broncos will have home ice advantage starting round two. Expect those games on the weekend.