The Nipawin Hawks really enjoy the Broncos company of late.

Following Friday night's 6-2 loss at the hands of the Hawks, the green and gold are now 1-10-1-1 over the last half decade and their first meeting this season at the Centennial Arena.

Their last victory came January 28, 2014 on the strength of Ryland Pashovitz's 42 saves and Cody Pongracz's game winner. since then, one point in seven tries.

"You are going to have to dump in the puck, you are going to have to grind it out," Assistant Coach Brayden Klimosko barked on the post-game show. "You cannot turn the puck over, tonight you saw what happens. You have to get over the fact that you just cannot think you are going to get rushes all game."

The contest, just the Broncos second regulation loss in a dozen games started in their favour, Trevor Posch capitalized on an early power-play snapping his ninth past Kristian Stead from Connor Swystun and Chris Van Os-Shaw. 

The Hawks would quickly respond, Grant Baetsen tied it with a power-play marker then was gifted a home town bounce in front of a blind-sided Garrett Mason making it 2-1 Nipawin at the break.

Humboldt would get back even, again during a man advantage, this time a five-on-three. Van Os-Shaw wristed his league leading 11th goal past Stead knotting it at 2-2 early in the second. Swystun picked up his second point, Daniel McKitrick earned the other assist.

The visitors would get themselves into big penalty trouble after that, six minors in all in the middle frame, during a five-on-three of their own the Hawks retook the lead for good on Keillan Olsen's third of the season, it would be the game winner.

Kenzie Arnold scored early in the third, Griffin Wiencek followed that, Carter Doerksen found an empty net in the final minute with Mason on the bench, Stead actually picked up an assist to go with his usual solid self making 25/27 stops. 

Mason wasn't as clean getting short changed on numerous Cage caroms en route to a 30/35 save performance in just his second defeat.

"They never turn the puck over at the blueline, they get a lot of shots on net, even if they are far out, they get rebounds, they drive hard to the net," Klimosko praised of the Hawks club. "That's what it takes to win hockey games in this rink and we weren't quite ready for that tonight and that's an eye-opener for us."

"Sooner or later you have to win here," Klimosko concluded.

The Broncos penalty killing was strong and tired, they only allowed a goal on nine Nipawin chances, they scored twice in a handful of opportunities.

The Broncos will now turn their focus to a Finning Division match-up in Kindersley Saturday night, the pre-game show begins at 7:15, puck drop is 7:30. Kindersley clipped Humboldt 4-3 in a shoot-out at the Elgar Petersen Arena in their only game so far this season.

Elsewhere in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Friday the Broncos got help within their division, the Battlefords fell 4-3 in Weyburn, Notre Dame dropped a 5-4 decision in Yorkton, Melville edged LaRonge 4-3 in a shoot-out.

You can hear more from Klimosko below as well as first intermission guest Parker Wakaruk.