BRONCOS CONTINUE WINNING WAYS, ROUT COLTS IN RBC CUP OPENER

CORNWALL, Ont. – Laurent Benjamin scored a hat trick and added two assists as the Humboldt Broncos opened the 2008 RBC Cup with a convincing 7-0 win over the host Cornwall Colts on Saturday night.

The Broncos, who won the final three games of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League final against the Kindersley Klippers and swept the Portage Terriers in four straight in the ANAVET Cup, ran their winning streak to eight games.

Edward Gale, with a pair of goals, Jordan Schindel and Brady Wacker also scored for Humboldt, which handed the Colts the worst loss by an RBC Cup host team since the Summerside Western Capitals fell 8-2 to Weyburn in 1997.

The Colts were playing their first game in almost seven weeks, their Central Junior A Hockey League season coming to a close on March 18 with a 4-3 overtime loss to Smiths Falls in Game 5 of their opening round playoff series.

Taylor Nelson made 21 saves for the shutout, including 11 in the final frame when the Colts had an 11-4 advantage. The Broncos outshot Cornwall 27-21 overall. Justin Roethlingshoefer and Jordan Bent shared goaltending duties for the Colts.

Gale, who finished with two goals and two assists, was named Humboldt’s Player of the Game, while Cornwall captain Darcy Findlay picked up the honour for the Colts.