BROWN SCORES TWICE AS BRONCOS WIN FIRST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Matt Brown opened and closed the scoring to lead the Humboldt Broncos to a 3-1 victory over the Camrose Kodiaks on Sunday night and the franchise’s first Royal Bank Cup as national Junior A champions.

Brown, the Broncos captain, got the scoring started six minutes after the puck dropped and put the final nail in the Kodiaks’ coffin with an empty net goal with just one second remaining on the clock.

Kris Kasper scored the other goal and added an assist for Humboldt, which became the first Saskatchewan team to win the national championship since the Notre Dame Hounds, led by Rod Brind’Amour and Curtis Joseph, hoisted the Centennial Cup in 1988.

Matt McKnight scored the lone goal for the Kodiaks, who failed in their bid to become just the sixth team ever to win more than one National Junior A Championship – Camrose won the 2001 title in Flin Flon, Man.

Kasper and McKnight were named Player of the Game for their respective teams.

Sean Connors earned the victory in the Humboldt goal, making 29 saves for his fourth win in as many starts, while Mike Brodeur suffered the defeat between the pipes for the Kodiaks, turning aside 22 of 24 shots.