The Christmas break finds the Humboldt Midget AA Broncos in first place after playing 11 games.
With a 9-2-0 record, the Broncos have been able to continue their winning ways from last season when they won both provincial and league championships. This was made partly possible when 12 of 18 players returned from last year and the team was able to fill the remaining six spots with players with previous experience at the AA level.
The Broncos' success starts in their own end with a returning 17-year-old goalie, Blair Miskolczi, and five returning defensemen - Jordan Gerwing, Jordan Hilgers, Karsten Hoehn, Jeff Ness, and David Stumborg. The defensive aspect of the team is rounded out by 16-year-old goalie, Drayke Unger, and first-year defenseman Aaron Earis.
The strong defensive capabilities are evident in that the team has the lowest goals-against numbers in the league - 23 in 11 games.
The team's head coach, Dan Torwalt, knew this would be one of the team's strengths this year.
"Going into camp, I knew we would be strong defensively. We only lost one defenseman from last year and four of the returning D-men would be 17-year-olds. Controlling your own end and good first passes are critical to any successful team."
The offensive capabilities of the team are also very similar to last year in that scoring is coming from all four lines.
Everyone on the team has a minimum of three points, with several players among the top scorers in the league. Averaging more than a point a game are Merit Meyer, Scott Helmkay, Brandon Tkatch, David Stumborg, Trey Daelick, Logan Rieger and Karsten Hoehn.
"This is a similar situation to last year," commented Torwalt. "Most teams have one or two top lines that provide their offence, our team has four and I use them all."
The importance of being in first place in the league by the Christmas break relates directly to provincial playoffs. The team in first place after 11 games will have home game advantage throughout the provincial playoffs.
In the first provincial round, which must be completed by January 23, the first place Broncos will play the eighth place Watson Rockets.
The Broncos have beaten the Rockets twice this season, once in exhibition and once in league play. The dates of the playoff games have yet to be determined.
There are 11 regular season games left and seven of these are home games. In January, the Broncos play Warman, Parkland, Watson and Midwest between January 2-29.
The 2010-2011 Midget AA Broncos roster includes goalies Blair Miskolczi (Englefeld), Drayke Unger (Humboldt), defensemen Aaron Earis, Jordan Gerwing, Ryan Gobeil, Jordon Hilgers, Jeff Ness and David Stumborg (Humboldt) and Karsten Hoehn (Lanigan), forwards Brett Blakely, Ryan Gobeil, Merit Meyer (Humboldt), David Baade, Logan Rieger (Imperial), Trey Daelick (Lanigan), Brandon Tkatch (Prud'Homme), Scott Helmkay (Colonsay), and Carter Yuzdepski (Cudworth). Coaching staff are Dan Torwalt, Carl Blakely, and Preston Tkatch and Wally Hoehn is manager.
Game schedules and scores are available at www.humboldtminorhockey.ca.
