In his first game with the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League club, on Oct. 8, he scored the game-winning goal on the road against Global Ag Risk Solutions Division rival the Battlefords North Stars. With the Broncos, the 18-year-old forward has three goals and nine points in 12 games.”
“Cage has been a really good pickup for us. … He’s a guy who takes pucks to the net. Really strong on the walls. He’s got a great shot. We want him to keep using it more and more,” Humboldt head coach Scott Barney said. “Obviously, he’s still pretty young but he’s a big part of our club here moving forward. We’re really happy to have him here in Humboldt.”
Since the 5-foot-11, 185-pounder joined the team, the Humboldt squad had gone 10-3 through Saturday. The squad saw its eight-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday, but as of that night still sat on top of the SJHL standings with a 14-5-0-0 record.
A Qualicum Beach, B.C. product, Newans joined the Broncos from the Victoria Royals of the Western Hockey League. He played one game with the Royals this fall after splitting the previous campaign between the Victoria WHL squad and the Junior B Oceanside Generals in Parksville, not far from his hometown. Newans said playing with the Royals has helped his game.
“My time in the WHL helped a lot with being able to bring some experience to the locker room and just learning from the older guys in Victoria on how important it is to work hard and take care of your body every day,” he said.
Off the ice, Newans has been welcomed with open arms in Humboldt.
“I’ve enjoyed Humboldt a lot since I’ve been here and getting to know the guys on the team has been great,” he said. “It’s a really tight group and they all made we feel very at home as soon as I got here. Humboldt seems like a great hockey town and you can’t ask for much more than that.”
In Humboldt, Newans billets with Jodi and Curtis Wacker. Of the experience so far, he said, “great food, great house, and even better people.”
While Newans is far from home, he is definitely familiar with the Broncos and the SJHL. His father’s side of the family is from Saskatchewan. His dad, Troy, who now coaches Junior B hockey in B.C., played for the SJHL’s Yorkton Terriers. His uncle, Chris Newans, played for Humboldt in the late 1980s and had a long pro career.
“I just thought it would be a great opportunity for me to come here and try and make an impact on the team and the league,” Newans said.
He had the advantage of knowing some people with the team before he arrived. Newans and fellow Broncos forward Connor Casparie from Powell River, B.C. played U18 AAA together and have been good friends ever since. As well, Newans knew Humboldt assistant coach Curtis Toneff from the latter’s time coaching in B.C.
The Broncos last week
Tuesday, Nov. 2 in Humboldt
Humboldt 2, Kindersley 1 SO
Broncos Scorer: Logan Kurki
Klippers Scorer: Tylin Hilbig
Goalies: Rayce Ramsay, Humboldt, 23 saves on 24 shots; Matthew Presenti, Kindersley, 32 on 33
Attendance: 618
Notes: Matthew Perkins scored the winning goal in the shootout. Bronco Cage Newans and Klipper Noah Lindsay also scored. Kindersley scored in the first period while Kurki lit the lamp on a powerplay. Defenceman Danton Cox was called up to the Broncos from U18 AAA Prince Albert Mintos. Kristjan Johnson of the Junior B Saskatoon Quakers backed up Ramsay. The in-demand netminder was later used as an affiliated player on the weekend by the La Ronge Ice Wolves.
Friday, Nov. 5 in Weyburn
Humboldt 4, Weyburn 0
Broncos Scorers: Matthew Perkins (2), Kade Olsen, Cody Hough
Goalies: Rayce Ramsay, Humboldt, 23 saves on 23 shots; Jackson Fellner, Weyburn, 37 on 40
Attendance: 485
Notes: Perkins had four points on the night. He scored in the first period and added an empty net goal in the fourth. Sandwiched in between were goals by Broncos blue liners Olsen and Hough. Captain Olsen fight Weyburn’s Ian Maier in the third. Humboldt led 1-0 after the first period and 2-0 after the second.
Saturday, Nov. 6 in Estevan
Estevan 6, Humboldt 2
Broncos Scorers: Rhett Gibson, Matthew Perkins
Bruins Scorers: Caelan Fitzpatrick (2), Matt Millette, Eric Pearce, Billy Sowa, Mark Rumsey
Goalies: Rayce Ramsay, Humboldt, 22 saves on 28 shots; Jace Hunter, Humboldt, 1 on 1; Boston Bilous, Estevan, 29 on 31
Attendance: 808
Notes: The loss ended the Broncos’ eight-game winning streak. Estevan led 3-0 after first and 3-1 following the second period. Gibson scored his first SJHL goal. Hunter of the Lumsden/Bethune U18AA Lions backed up Ramsay. He was also the backup on Friday. Humboldt’s Cage Newans and Estevan’s Alex Von Sprecken dropped the gloves in the third. Humboldt was whistled for 20 infractions for 102 penalty minutes while Estevan had 17 for 61.
Notes
The Broncos traded 19-year-old forward Justin Keck was traded to the Swan Valley Stampeders for a player development fee. The Morris, Man. product had an assist in 10 games this season. He played four games for Humboldt in 2020-2021. Keck scored twice in his debut for the Stampeders. … The Broncos organization announced last week that the team’s name and logo had been officially trademarked and registered. … Logan Kurki was named the SGEU MVP of the Month for September/October. He had 24 points, including 10 goals, in 13 games. He was held off the scoresheet in only two games in that period. … Rayce Ramsay was the SaskTel SJHL Goaltender of the Month. He had a SJHL best 12 wins and played 165 more minutes than the league’s second most active netminder. He had a 2.21 goals against average and a .922 save percentage. … Alec Saretzky was the runner-up to Estevan’s Mark Rumsey for RBC Forward of the Month. Connor McGrath was the runner-up for Directwest SJHL Rookie of the Month. Note Dame’s Austin Elliot won the honour.
This Week
The Humboldt Broncos had a league-best 14-5-0-0 record heading into Sunday’s contest with Estevan, which was played after the Journal’s deadline. The team heads north this weekend. They play Friday and Saturday in La Ronge (5-11-1-2).
