Written by: Rory McGouran
Confidence in the crease is as key as it gets for a component towards a successful hockey club. The Humboldt Broncos will welcome back a familiar face with hopes to instill that confidence as they embark on the 2021/22 season.
The Broncos announced they will welcome back Saskatoon born netminder Rayce Ramsay for the upcoming season.
Ramsay, now a 20-year-old goaltender in his final year of junior hockey, spent the majority of the 2018/19 season with the Broncos as a 17-year-old where he suited up for 27 games. posting a 16-7-1-1 record to go along with a 2.75 GAA and a .923 SV%. His save percentage and win total both stood second-best among rookie goaltenders in the SJHL.
“The experience was fantastic. I really enjoyed my time in Humboldt and the community was such a big part in that. Every day you could go to the rink and know that the community and your teammates had your back. The atmosphere inside the rink and in the city was unreal.”
After one season with the Broncos in the SJHL, Ramsay made the jump to the WHL where he spent the next two years with the Kamloops Blazers. He attributed his time in Humboldt as one that helped him find the level of confidence and experience needed to venture to the next level.
“I feel like consistency was a big thing for me that year in Humboldt. I felt like I really found my stride and I could find a way to bring a good amount of energy to the rink every day and perform day in and day out.”
Ramsay took part in 25 of his 27 WHL games in the 2019/20 season where he recorded three shutouts with a 13-8-1 record, 3.07 GAA and an .880 SV%.
“It was a really big growth year for me. New team, new league, a lot of factors went into it. I felt I grew a lot as a person and a goalie, so all of that is going to prepare me to come back this year and have a strong year, help the Broncos win a championship.”
Although Ramsay did leave the SJHL for two seasons, championship aspirations haven’t left the Humboldt Broncos locker room since leading the SJHL with a 5-1 record in 2020/21 before the season came to a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These championship sights were dead in the crosshairs of reasons for Ramsay to make his return to the team that drafted him 62nd overall in 2016.
“I really enjoyed my time there as a 17-year-old. I know the culture is second to none in Humboldt. I know we have that mentality that we can win a championship, so I’m just excited to meet my teammates, get back in the community, and hopefully win a championship”
The Broncos continue to build their roster as they prepare for an upcoming training camp and the puck drop of the 2021/22 season.
