For the first time in three years the Humboldt Broncos are getting set for Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League quarterfinal action, as they will take on the Nipawin Hawks.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be two good teams going at it,鈥� said Broncos head coach Darcy Haugan, so the Broncos will have to be ready.
鈥淥bviously, it鈥檚x just going to be a hard fought series and we just have to be extremely disciplined and extremely focused and just ready to play any type of game and I think we鈥檙e capable of that.鈥�
The series will see the Broncos come up against a Hawks team that finished 19 points higher in the standings, and won nine more games, but Haugan says they have started to play their best hockey at the right time of year.
鈥淲e鈥檙e finally getting everybody healthy鈥� there was some good moments and some bad moments but I think we鈥檙e going to be rested, we鈥檙e going to be fresh just like they are.鈥�
The teams split the six game season series right down the middle this season with each team finishing with a 3-2-1 record, but Haugan notes if they play fast and with pace they will have a greater chance at success.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to need good goaltending and we鈥檙e going to need timely scoring and we鈥檙e going to have to be structurally sound for seven games or less.鈥�
For the Broncos to have success they are going to need to score goals, which will be no easy take against a Hawks team lead by SJHL Most Valuable Player and Goalie of the Year, Kristian Stead.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to have to be diligent about directing pucks at the net, we鈥檙e going to have to be real diligent at making sure we鈥檙e getting to the net and control those second chance, third chance opportunities,鈥� said Haugan who notes he feels equally as comfortable with reigning goaltender of the month Garrett Mason in his own net.
鈥淲e believe he can do the job for us as well and it鈥檚 going to be honestly who blinks first.鈥�
The two teams match up pretty well against one another offensively as well and Haugan says it will be really important for everyone to be focused on every shift.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e four lines deep, we鈥檙e not going to be able to hide anybody in this series with matchups just because they鈥檙e so deep. So we鈥檙e going to have to be ready.鈥�
Being smart with the puck and managing it well will go a long way in deciding the series, says Haugan, who notes keeping mistakes to a minimum and being willing to go the extra mile is a great place to start.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just a matter of being dialed in. And who can sustain that and who can be the more disciplined team and the team that executes better. And you can鈥檛 be careless with the puck and you can鈥檛 be careless as far as taking bad penalties.鈥�
Special teams are often the deciding factor in a playoff series and this one will be no different as the Broncos run into a Hawks team that finished the regular season third on both the power play and penalty kill, while the Broncos ranked tenth on the power play and seventh on the penalty kill.
鈥淥bviously specialty teams is huge so it鈥檚 been a focus of ours and we believe we have the group and we believe that we can create opportunities. And hopefully gain some momentum because of our power play.鈥�
