The Broncos responded from Friday's home ice loss to North Battleford with a spirited win in Melfort corralling the Mustangs 5-2 Saturday night.

The reigning champions were coming off a big 6-1 win of their own to open their weekend but the Broncos spoiled the second half their parents visit.

Erik Gardiner snapped his 12th of the year from Cole Young and Benton Hrynkiw 8:42 getting the visitors on the board, Evan Plotnik kept the Mustangs close in the first only allowing that goal on 18 shots in the opening frame.

The Broncos would extend their 1-0 lead in the second during a 5-on-3 power-play, Young deflected a Brayden Camrud pass for his sixth of the season and first in Humboldt. Trevor Posch, playing in his first game since October 5th earned the second assist.

Yet to lose in regulation when going to the third with a lead this year, the undermanned Broncos did get a scare. Kalem Zary jumped on a loose puck in the Humboldt slot just 24 seconds into the third period zipping it past Garrett Mason.

The Mustangs continued to pepper the 20 year-old netminder who turned aside 16 of 18 in the third and 31/33 overall.

Then in a span of 1:54, Daniel McKitrick made it 3-1 with his 12th and Gardiner deposited a Chris Van Os-Shaw pass on a 2-on-1 rush making it 4-1 with just over 13 minutes remaining.

Zary jumped on another loose puck in front of Mason notching his second but with Plotnik on the bench for an extra attacker Van Os-Shaw scored his Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League leading 24th goal at 18:22 capping the scoring.

Plotnik was credited with 36/40 saves in the loss.

Humboldt was 1/7 on the power-play, the Mustangs were unsuccessful in four tries.

"It was a good team effort, we were really short guys," Young said after the game. "Guys stepped up, I'm just happy we got the win tonight."

Head Coach Darcy Haugan also applauded his team's effort.

"Obviously a big bounce back night for our group, we're very pleased with the 60 minutes we gave tonight."

The Broncos dressed just 16 skaters, they lost Luke Kempf to an arguable checking from behind penalty in the first period. Kobe Scott left the game with an injury but the green and gold battled through it according to Young.

"It was a good feeling knowing that I was stepping into a bigger role, I'm just happy that I had a pretty good game, it felt really good." 

After a rough stretch through November the Broncos have won three of their last four and will spend the week at home with Kindersley visiting Tuesday and the Millionaires on Saturday.

Both games are 7:30 starts.

Elsewhere Saturday, Kindersley routed Notre Dame 7-2, LaRonge edged Melville 3-2, Flin Flon swept their home-and-home series with Nipawin wining 3-2 in the second game and Yorkton used a shoot-out to beat Weyburn 3-2.

You can hear more from Young and Haugan below as well as first intermission guest Benton Hrynkiw plus second intermission guest Logan Schatz.