By Laurence Heinen /

HUMBOLDT BRONCOS

By their standards, the Broncos had a tough start to the month of November.

Following a 3-2 road loss to the Estevan Bruins on Nov. 1, the Broncos rebounded to edge the Red Wings 4-3 in Weyburn the next night before losing 3-2 in overtime to the Melfort Mustangs at home on Nov. 3.

Team captain Brady Wacker has continued to lead the way offensively with eight goals and 19 assists through 20 games, followed closely by fellow defenceman Tanner Vandesype (9g, 15a).

Among forwards, the Schroeder twins, Scott (7g, 16a) and Steven (9g, 12a), were slightly ahead of Spencer Braaten (9g, 9a).

Goalies Jeff Holloway and Andrew Bodnarchuk had recorded eight wins each as of press time.

FLIN FLON BOMBERS

After going 2-2-1 during a five-game road trip to finish off their October schedule, the Bombers returned home to beat the Battlefords North Stars 6-2 on Nov. 2 before splitting a pair of games with the Yorkton Terriers (3-2 win on Nov. 7 followed by a 4-3 loss the next night).

Flin Flon’s leading scorer Tommy Castonguay (6g, 20a) padded his stats with a goal and two assists against the North Stars, while fellow forward Alex Lamontange (11g, 11a) also had a good game with a hat-trick and a helper.

Defenceman Harley Garrioch scored once and set up two others in a losing cause against the Terriers on Nov. 8 to give him two goals and 15 assists on the season.

Netminder Ryan Kerpin had compiled a 6-5 record to go with a 2.46 goals-against average and a .898 save percentage as of Nov. 9.

MELFORT MUSTANGS

After Blake Hietala scored the game-wining goal in overtime to propel the Mustangs to a 3-2 win over the Broncos in Humboldt on Nov. 4, the Mustangs lost 3-1 at home to the Nipawin Hawks the next night.

The Hawks then downed the Mustangs 5-3 three nights later in Nipawin to inch closer to Melfort in the standings.

After 21 games, Hietala paced the Mustang scoring attack with 13 goals and 11 assists, followed closely by Kyle Fraser (6g, 13a) and Deven Stillar (12g, 6a).

Goalie David Tetrault (7-2-1, 1.77 GAA, .936 save %) made 31 saves and was named first star in the OT win over the Broncs.

NIPAWIN HAWKS

Back-to-back wins over Melfort (see above) have helped the Hawks forget about their miserable six-game losing streak from Oct. 3-18.

Since then, the Hawks have soared to six wins in their past eight games to get back into contention in the Itech Conference.

Taylor Thiessen notched two goals and two assists during the first three games of November to give him six goals and 15 helpers through 20 games.

After setting up two goals against Melfort on Nov. 8, Torrie Dyck upped his season totals to nine goals and 11 assists.

Goalie Adrien Lemay stopped 65 shots to record both wins against the Mustangs to improve his record to 6-5-0 to go with a 3.36 GAA and a .906 save %.

LA RONGE ICE WOLVES

Following a 3-2 win over the Notre Dame Hounds on Nov. 1, the Ice Wolves lost three straight games, including 4-1 and 6-3 setbacks to the Melville Millionaires at home on Nov. 7-8.

Despite being held off the scoresheet in both games against the Mills, defenceman Dustin Stevenson still led the Wolves with 10 goals and five assists in 19 games. Meanwhile centre Dan Conacher had put up five goals and 10 helpers through 21 games, while Doug Lindensmith (6g, 8a) and Everette Lerner (5g, 9a) had 14 points each.

BATTLEFORDS NORTH STARS

After finishing October with six straight losses, November didn’t start much better for the North Stars, who won just one of their first five games of the month when they doubled the La Ronge Ice Wolves 6-3 at home on Nov. 4.

Josh Clare and Blake Tatchell each had a goal and an assist against the Wolves, while Taylor Epp chipped in with a pair of assists.

Mitch Wall had seven goals and eight assists after 20 games played to lead the Stars in scoring, while Alexandre Leclerc had 15 points (5g, 10a) in 22 games.

Goalie Graham Hildebrand stopped 36 shots to record his third win of the season against La Ronge before making 32 and 34 saves in back-to-back road losses to Notre Dame (2-1) and Weyburn (5-4) on Nov. 7-8.