JOHNSTON’S TWO POINTS LEAD BRONCOS TO WIN OVER SLAMMERS

HUMBOLDT, Sask. – Andrew Johnston scored once and added an assist to pace the offence as the Humboldt Broncos topped the Woodstock Slammers 4-1 in the opening game for both at the 2012 RBC Cup on Saturday night.

The Broncos became just the second host team in the last five years to start the National Junior A Championship with a win – Dauphin beat Vernon in 2010, while Camrose (2011), Victoria (2009) and Cornwall (2008) all came up short in their openers.

Emrik Guillemette, Josh Roach and Robbie Ciolfi had the other goals for Humboldt (1-0), which has never lost its first game in five trips to the national championship. Matt Hrynkiw made 34 saves in the Broncos goal, including 27 in the final 40 minutes.

Guillemette poked home a loose puck on a first period power play, Roach blasted a shot through traffic early in the second and Johnston stepped into the slot and snapped a shot past Woodstock goaltender Matt Murphy late in the middle frame to give the Broncos a commanding lead after 40 minutes.

Andrew Schriver scored the lone goal for Woodstock (0-1), which is making its first appearance ever at the national championship. Schriver snapped a shot past a screened Hrynkiw on a delayed penalty to end the Humboldt goaltender’s shutout bid 8:26 into the third period.

The Slammers are looking to become just the second team to win the East Region championship and RBC Cup in the same year, joining Halifax in 2002, while the Broncos can become the seventh host team since the start of the five-team format in 1990 to win the national title.

Humboldt goes for a 2-0 start when it faces Penticton in one of the preliminary round’s marquee match-ups on Sunday night (7:30 p.m. MT), while Woodstock will enjoy a day off Sunday before facing the Portage Terriers in Monday’s lone game (7:30 p.m. MT).