Marko Ditkun/Edmonton Oil Kings

Swift Current win 6-1 in Edmonton

The 6th ranked CHL team in the Swift Current Broncos (23-7-2-0) made their way to central Alberta to face the Edmonton Oil Kings (7-21-3-0). Swift Current entered the game without one of their top scorers Tyler Steenbergen. 2017 first round pick Ben King get the call up for the Broncos. A couple of 20-year-old goalies got the call in net, Travis Child for Edmonton and Logan Flodell for Swift Current.

 

Swift Current came out hot, taking a two-goal lead in the opening frame and pressing the Oil Kings defenders. Newly acquired Matteo Gennaro opened the scoring seven minutes into the game off a tipped shot in front of the net on the power play. Swift Current scored once again 24 seconds later, as former Oil King Kole Gable goes to the net hard and got the puck past Travis Child. Final shots in the frame were 13-11 for the Broncos.

Glenn Gawdin had two goals (Marko Ditkun)

Swift Current continued to extend their lead in the second period, capitalizing early on the power play. After a long power play and good pressure from the Broncos, the puck found Glenn Gawdin at the back door and he tapped it in easily. Gawdin scored once again as a puck pops our front, he snapped it over the blocker of Travis Child. This was Glenn Gawdin’s 28th goal of the season. Swift Current continued to find ways to score as defenseman Colby Sissons got his 6th goal of the season. His goal came on a shot from the perimeter over the blocker of Child late in the second period to extend the lead 5-0. Final shots after the second period were 24-21 for the Oil Kings.

Logan Flodell had 42 saves (Marko Ditkun)

 

The third period started with continuous pressure from the Broncos and a couple of power play opportunities for both teams. Swift Current was able to strike once again on the power play. Quinton Waitzner scored his first WHL goal off a loose puck in front. Edmonton finally got on the board late in third as captain Colton Kehler’s pass redirected off of an opponent’s stick and in past Flodell. Swift Current won there 23rd game of the season 6-1. Final shots were 43-30 for the Oil Kings.

 

Game Notes:

-Colby Sisson’s had a strong performance. He played an assertive two-way game and found himself on the score board late in the second. He’s one of the top producing defenders in the WHL currently and a prospect of the New Jersey Devils. Sissons is having a strong season and showing he will be key to Swift Current’s success this season.

-Swift Current started really playing their young kids late in the third, leaving their top six and top pairing off the ice. I was very impressed by Logan Barlage’s play during that time. He’s got a good blend of size and speed.

-I felt it was a good performance for the Oil Kings David Kope and Carter Souch. They are two young kids who earned their ice time as the game progressed. Kope and Souch have been solid as of late.