The trio of Logan Schatz, Nick Shumlanski and Jaxon Joseph would prove to be the difference makers for the Humboldt Broncos, as they beat the Weyburn Red Wings 4-1 Friday night. The win is the first win for the Broncos over the Red Wings this season and opens the gap they hold over the Wings for fifth place in the overall standings to seven points. With the loss, the Red Wings remain five points back of the Estevan Bruins for first in the Viterra Division, but now only have one game in hand.

The game started out well for the Red Wings, with Jordan Kazymyra scoring on the power play just 3:32 into the opening frame. The goal, assisted by Connor Pyne and Landon Walters, gives the Wings power play goals in four consecutive games and improves their overall power play record on the season, which is the best in the SJHL.

Chase Nameth, a call-up for the Red Wings, made a strong impact, enough players from the Broncos gave him notice. Nameth, who normally plays for the Regina Pat Canadians of the SMAAAHL, saw minutes on the top two lines with the Wings and was quick to bounce back after being rocked by Broncos defenseman Bryce Fiske early in the game.

“It woke me up, and I thought I played well after the big hit,” Nameth said after the game. The sentiment was echoed by Red Wings head coach Wes Rudy.

“He’s a tough kid, he battles hard, he was one of our better hockey players tonight,” Rudy commented about the performance of the AP.

The Broncos would stymy the momentum the Red Wings were gaining after the Kazymyra goal, though, at the nine-minute mark of the first. Logan Schatz scored his 19th of the season, beating Arik Weersink, who was appearing in his 35th game of the season for the Wings.

In the second period, the Broncos began to pull away. At the 4:55 mark, Joseph would score a goal, redirecting a point shot by Stephen Wack into the right-side post, which ricocheted into the net behind Weersink.

Just 2:30 later, the Broncos expanded the lead, when Shumlanski scored, assited by Schatz, who finished the game with three points. His third came in the final minute of the second, when he scored an unassisted goal.

The Red Wings came out in the third, and turned things up, but were unable to beat Parker Tobin, despite a number of close range chances.

The two teams meet again Saturday night in Humboldt. The puck drops on the game at Elgar Petersen Arena at 7:30 p.m. You can catch all the action live on Red Wing Radio K106, starting with the pregame show, at 7:20 p.m.