DZIJACKY EARNS SHUTOUT IN RBC CUP DEBUT AS BRONCOS BLANK THUNDERBIRDS

HUMBOLDT, Sask. – Colin Dzijacky stopped all 19 shots he faced for the shutout in his tournament debut as the Humboldt Broncos clinched a berth in Saturday’s semifinals with a 3-0 win over the Soo Thunderbirds on Tuesday afternoon.

The victory means Humboldt will advance past the preliminary round for the fifth time in as many trips to the National Junior A Championship; the Broncos won the national title in 2003 and 2008, and finished as runners-up in 1987 and 2009.

Andrew Johnston, Josh Roach and Robbie Ciolfi scored the goals for Humboldt (3-0), which outshot the Thunderbirds 42-19. The Broncos have won seven of their last eight games at Elgar Petersen Arena, dating back to the SJHL final against Weyburn.

After a scoreless first period, Johnston cut in from the left of Soo goaltender John Kleinhans and tucked the puck in for his third goal in as many games, breaking the deadlock early in the middle frame.

Roach doubled the lead just over four minutes later, blasting a shot over the glove of Kleinhans on a Humboldt power play, and Ciolfi capped the scoring in the third on another man advantage, chipping a loose puck over the diving Soo goaltender.

Kleinhans was once again the story for the Soo (1-2), making 39 saves to run his total to 151 stops on 159 shots – a .950 save percentage – in three games. The Thunderbirds offence, which averaged close to five goals per game this season, was shut out for just the second time, the first since a 3-0 loss to the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners on Feb. 24.

Humboldt looks to cap off a perfect preliminary round Thursday night when it faces the Portage Terriers (7:30 p.m. MT) in a rematch of the seven-game ANAVET Cup series, while the Soo will look to clinch a spot in the semis when it takes on the Woodstock Slammers on Thursday afternoon (3 p.m. MT).