It took some extra time, but the Humboldt Broncos were able to outlast the Melfort Mustangs to the tune of a 2-1 shootout win on Saturday night.

Head Coach Darcy Haugan was looking for a better effort from Friday's 4-1 loss in Melfort and felt that his team responded.

"I thought we got off on the right foot. We sagged at times, but that is to be expected against a good hockey team like the Melfort Mustangs," he explained. "Overall, I am pleased with our effort and our compete level. We were definitely engaged tonight."

The Broncos had led 4-0 on the shot clock before the Mustangs were even able to register one the other way on goaltender Jacob Wassermann.

Kaleb Dahlgren got the scoring started for the Broncos late in the first period. The 20-year-old had a heads up play to pick off a blind pass from Mustangs defenseman Loch Morrison.

Dahlgren was sprung in all alone, beating Melfort goalie Evan Plotnik to make it 1-0.

The next goal in the game wouldn't come until the third period when former Bronco and Mustangs captain Andrew Thompson made a nice effort to jam the puck past Wassermann.

The final minutes of regulation and five minutes of three-on-three overtime would lead nowhere for the two sides, thus requiring a shootout to end the game.

Wassermann stopped two of three Mustangs faced, while Brayden Camrud and Conner Lukan scored to help secure the Broncos win.

The Humboldt-born goaltender explained how he approaches the one-on-one situation.

"Usually just get out, get big, use my size and take away angles," he noted. "Almost intimidate guys to try to beat me because if they come in and deke I have a lot of leg to spread out."

It was Wassermann's second shootout in the SJHL, having helped the Broncos defeat Notre Dame on September 17.

Haugan noted the 17-year-old's ability following the game.

"We knew when he was getting back against Flin Flon he would be a little rusty, so we wanted to get him some consecutive games to get back into it," he said. "His goal is to be the best goaltender in the league and he is a very focused individual and was huge for us tonight."

Starting his seventh game of the season, Wassermann says that being infront of family and friends has helped him out in his first year with the Broncos.

"It's been fun, it's a really good group of guys here. I'm loving playing at home in Junior A. I grew up watching the Broncos, so it's kind of a dream to put on the sweater."

With the win, Wassermann earned his fourth victory of the season. It was the second time this year that he held the opposition to one goal, with the other being against Yorkton at the SJHL Showcase in Saskatoon.

The Broncos, who are now 6-5-1 on the season, will remain at home for their next game, which comes against Kindersley on Wednesday.


Plenty of goals were scored in the other games across the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League on Saturday night.

Weyburn outpaced Flin Flon to skate away with a 7-4 win. It was Notre Dame over La Ronge 6-2, and the Kindersley Klippers edged Melville 4-3.

Sunday's action will see a pair of games, with La Ronge in Weyburn, and Flin Flon visiting Estevan.