2009 RBC Cup

BRONCOS TOP VOYAGEURS, MOVE ONE STEP CLOSER TO SEMIFINAL

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Humboldt Broncos are one step closer to defending their RBC Cup championship.

Shawn Hunter set up Scott Schroeder for the insurance goal early in the third period and rounded out the scoring into an empty net in the final minute as the Broncos all but locked up a semifinal berth with a 5-2 win over the Kingston Voyageurs on Wednesday afternoon.

2009 RBC Cup Photo Gallery Post-game audio: WST - Dean Brockman | CEN - Evan Robinson

Humboldt can lock up a final four berth as early as Wednesday night, depending on the outcome of the Summerside-Victoria match-up. A Victoria win eliminates the Capitals and ensures the Broncos play on Friday.

After stonewalling Summerside on Monday, making 45 saves in a 7-5 Kingston win, Voyageurs netminder Shawn Sirman continued his strong play early in Wednesday’s contest, keeping the game scoreless after one period despite his team being outshot 18-9.

Jarrett Burton and Mike Farrell scored goals 4:56 apart in the second period to give Kingston a pair of leads at 1-0 and 2-1, but those would be the only pucks the Central Region champions put past Humboldt goaltender Andrew Bodnarchuk.

Taylor Piller, Dimitri Levin and Tory Allen scored second-period goals for the Broncos as they took a slim 3-2 lead into the final 20 minutes before pulling away.

Both teams wrap up round-robin play on Thursday – Kingston faces the undefeated Vernon Vipers in the matinee contest (2 p.m. PT), while Humboldt takes on Summerside in the late game (7 p.m. PT).