HUMBOLDT — Home sweet EPA.
For the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey players, the Elgar Petersen Arena is truly a home away from home. The players, who spend countless hours there, appreciate the complex and its history. Many pictures and banners that decorate the arena
“The EPA is an unreal rink to play in,” said 18-year-old forward Zach McIntyre, who is in his second season with the team. “The atmosphere has been great over the year I played in the EPA. The banners give you more of a reason to play and to push yourself to play for the banners up there.”
After playing just one of their first eight games in the EPA, the Broncos are now having a chance to enjoy home ice advantage. The team is in the midst of a seven-game stretch where they play five contests at home.
The Broncos play Notre Dame in Wilcox on Saturday and then host those N.D. Hounds on Oct. 22 and Flin Flon on Oct. 24. They are obviously thrilled to stay at home and compete in front of their enthusiastic backers.
“As most people can tell, we have a really good fan base here in Humboldt,” said Logan Foster, a 20-year-old forward who led the team in scoring, as of last Thursday. “It’s better to play at home and the EPA is always rocking on game nights. As a team, it helps us get that extra bit of energy. When the fans are in the game, the whole team is in the game.”
As of last Thursday, in a small sample size, the Broncos were at 1-2 at home, including a contest as the home team at the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Showcase in Warman. Last season the team sported an 18-10-1-0 home record.
On Nov. 3, 2018, the Broncos’ home arena’s namesake passed away. Petersen was 82. Born in 1936, he grew up in a farm near Annaheim. He moved with his family to Humboldt in 1962. Shortly after he arrived, Petersen started volunteering with various sports teams. With the founding of the Broncos in 1970, he became the team trainer and equipment manager. Petersen was inducted into the Humboldt and District Sports Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015.
The Uniplex Arena was renamed for Petersen on Sept. 15, 2000 at that season’s home opener for the Broncos. The Uniplex itself turned 30 in 2013.
