PODAIMA SCORES TWICE AS BRONCOS OPEN WITH VICTORY

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Josh Podaima scored twice in the third period to provide a little insurance as the Humboldt Broncos opened the 2003 Royal Bank Cup with a 4-1 victory over the Wellington Dukes on Sunday afternoon.

Podaima made it a 3-1 game with a shorthanded goal just past the 14-minute mark of the final frame and rounded out the scoring with a power play marker 2:37 later as the Broncos joined the Cougars de Lennoxville atop the standings at 1-0 – Humboldt meets the Cougars on Monday night.

Scott Degelman and Brad Erickson also scored for Humboldt, and each added an assist.

Liam Reddox had the lone goal for Wellington (0-1), pulling the Dukes to within one at 2-1 on a power play late in the second period. The loss was only the ninth in 81 games for Wellington, which posted a remarkable 47-1-1 regular season record in the OPJHL.

Humboldt netminder Sean Connors earned Player of the Game honours for the Broncos thanks to a 35-save performance, while Reddox took home the award for the Dukes.

The game marked Wellington’s debut at the National Junior A Championship, while the Broncos were playing their first game at the tournament since losing 5-2 to the Richmond Sockeyes in the national final in 1987 on home ice in Humboldt.