M.L. Sr. Broncos capture BLHL championship for third straight year

The Meadow Lake Sr. Broncos managed a ‘three-peat’ after sweeping their best-of-seven series 4-0 against the Sandy Lake Chiefs during the league final.

The team has now added a third consecutive championship after topping the Beaver Lakes Hockey League in 2016 and 2017. This year’s series was locked up when the Broncos defeated the Chiefs on home ice Friday, March 16 with a score of 8-5, then blanked their opponents 3-0 the next night to capture the trophy. Coach Winston Morin said Friday’s game was a tough-fought battle, with Sandy Lake pulling ahead in the second period. Four goals in the third, including an exciting empty-netter by Broncos’ goalie Jared Lafond, helped Meadow Lake grab the victory.

“[Sandy Lake] came with a good game plan and a good roster,” Morin said. “That was probably our toughest game of the season and we were struggling to find our game, but all the same, they were putting pressure on us the whole time. It was actually a lot of fun in the end, especially coming out with a big win.”

Morin added forward Ashton McIntyre had “a heck of a game,” garnering two goals and an assist during Friday’s tussle.

On Saturday the Broncos scored a goal in each period during another close game, but the team’s defence was the shining light that evening.

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“Sandy Lake was getting tougher all along,” Morin said. “We had total team defence, even the forwards back-checked hard and put pressure on them.”

Jordan Oystrick, a five-year veteran of the team, said this season was an enjoyable one.

“When I started five years ago with the Broncos I would have never imagined us winning a championship, let alone three in a row,” the foreward said. “We have the best coaching staff in senior hockey. Some guys play hockey their whole lives and never win anything, so we are all very lucky.”

Oystrick praised the coaching staff for always believing in their players.

“I can’t say enough good stuff about Glenn Dennis and Brent Brooks, as they worked very hard to get the Broncos where they are today,” Oystrick said. “They deserve a lot of credit for keeping senior hockey in Meadow.”

Broncos’ Captain Taylor Arnold received the BLHL Most Valuable Player honour for his leadership throughout the year, which continued despite being knocked out of gameplay with a broken collarbone weeks ago.

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca  

On Twitter @ReporterKath