Game 1 of the SJHL semifinals has gone to the Bombers.
Flin Flon defeated the Broncos 3-1 at the Elgar Petersen Arena Friday night, getting an early series lead.
Flin Flon opened the scoring with a first period powerplay, with a Reece Richmond getting a point shot through a crowd and beating Rayce Ramsay. Humboldt almost tied the game up, with Matthew Perkins actually beating Cal Schell, but the goal was called back after Perkins was penalized for a slash on the play.
On a powerplay, Jaeden Mercier made it a 2-0 game after sneaking past the defence and firing a backhand past Ramsay. The Bombers would take that 2-0 lead through 40 minutes.
The Broncos made it interesting in the third period, with Braiden Koran getting the last touch on a point shot and tipping it past Schell, making it 2-1, but Flin Flon would hold off the hosts. Drew Kuzma would add in an empty-netter to seal the win - with a travelling contingent of Bomber fans even chucking a moose leg on the ice over by the visitors' bench after the final whistle.
Schell had one of his best performances this season, saving 36 of 37 shots on goal. Ramsay stopped 25 pucks on the night.
Elsewhere in the league, Estevan got off to an early series lead against Yorkton, winning 7-4 in the first game of their semifinal.
Both series will continue Saturday night with Game 2s. Flin Flon will face the Broncos again in Humboldt, with the game starting at 7:30 p.m. Saskatchewan time, 8:30 p.m. Manitoba time.
