The hottest ticket in Saskatchewan at the moment is to have a seat in the Elgar Petersen Arena for the Humboldt Broncos’ return to action.
The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League club announced Tuesday that the team’s home opener against the Nipawin Hawks on Wednesday, Sept. 12 is a complete sellout.
That contest, which will also be broadcast on TSN and CTV Saskatchewan, will be the first competitive contest for the Broncos since the bus accident on April 6 that took the lives of 16 people.
In preparation for the home opener, the Broncos traveled to Peace River, Alta. over the weekend for a pair of pre-season games in the hometown of late head coach and general manager Darcy Haugan.
Saturday’s affair saw the Broncos drop a 4-2 affair to the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Whitecourt Wolverines, while the Grande Prairie Storm picked up a 9-5 triumph in Sunday’s matchup.
The Broncos have two more pre-season games against the Melfort Mustangs this week, as they’ll host the SJHL side Friday night and will play a visit to Melfort Saturday before getting the regular season underway.
As of Tuesday, 26 players remain the on the Broncos’ roster, which include three skaters with ties to Prince Albert.
Forward Mitchell Girolami, who was an affiliate player with the Broncos last year, had seven points in 26 games for the Prince Albert Mintos during the 2016-17 season.
Forward Michael Clarke, who was an eighth round pick by the Prince Albert Raiders in the 2013 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft, and defenceman Chase Felgueiras, a sixth round pick in 2015, are also on the roster.
Brayden Camrud and Derek Patter are the only two players who are back with the Broncos from last year’s lineup.
