Darwin Knelsen

Broncos pull off comeback minus World Junior players

The Swift Current Broncos thrilled the home crowd in a stunning comeback in the first game after the holiday break.

Even though 2,644 Swift Current Bronco fans have had their fair share of watching Tyler Steenbergen play for Team Canada in the pre-tournament and preliminary round of the World Junior Championship, they have been anticipating the return of their local team on home ice.

WHL

Colby Sissons (Darwin Knelsen)

The Broncos hosted the Moose Jaw Warriors last night in the first of a home-and-home series. The atmosphere at the Swift Current iPlex was so thick you could cut it with a knife. The first game after the break didn’t disappoint, either, as the Broncos came from behind to edge the Warriors 5-4 in a shootout.

Beck Malenstyn was cleared to play and slid into the lineup for the first time since the multi-player deal that sent him to Swift Current. He didn’t have too bad of a run last night, earning an assist, a plus-2 rating, and six shots on net. Kaden Elder, arguably the most consistent player on the team, brought his A-game again, which earned him a third period goal, a plus-1 rating, and two shots on net. The 16-year-old rookie defenseman Carter Spenst took to the ice for the first time last night and fit right in. He may not have tallied any points, but he played like he’s been with the team for months. His effort did not go unnoticed by fans. A lot of fan favourites stood out, again and the new guys stepped up to the plate in the absence of some key players.

But the game didn’t start out as well as it ended. The first two periods were not good for Swift Current, as Moose Jaw dominated the plays, giving them a three-goal lead. Close to the five-minute mark of the third period, the Broncos got back in the game with a goal by Max Patterson. Barely a minute and a half later, Kaden Elder added another to the tally. The score was 3-2 for the Warriors when Moose Jaw would gain their two-goal lead back. But it was nothing for the home team to come back and make a game of it.

With four minutes left on the clock, captain, Glenn Gawdin, rallied the team and cut the Moose Jaw lead to one. It was Matteo Gennaro, with three-and-a-half minutes left on the clock, who scored the tying goal and forced overtime. Overtime solved nothing and they headed into a shootout. Logan Flodell proved his worth, stopping all shots against him. Again, Gawdin and Gennaro would become the heroes to give Swift Current their first win after the break.

This Broncos team is strong with or without Steenbergen (Team Canada), Alexi Heponiemi (Team Finland), and Artyom Minulin (Team Russia). And they proved that last night in Swift Current against their first place rival, Moose Jaw.

WORLD JUNIORS

Aleski Heponiemi (Darwin Knelsen)

But how are the World Juniors doing, you ask?

In the first round on Dec. 26, specifically Team Canada versus Team Finland, Heponiemi scored against Steenbergen and Team Canada, but Canada ended up with the 4-2 win. Steenbergen didn’t earn any points in that match up, but Heponiemi notched his first goal of the tournament after taking two shots on net.

During the Team Russia versus Team Czech Republic game in the first round, Artyom Minulin and Russia lost a close game with a score of 5-4 for the Czechs. Even though Russia rallied at the end, they just couldn’t finish. Minulin didn’t earn any points during that game, but he made quite an impact on the power play.

Heponiemi and Team Finland take on Team Denmark today. Artyom Minulin and Team Russia match up against Team Switzerland later today. Steenbergen and Team Canada get a break until they take on Team USA tomorrow in a game that everyone has been waiting for.

The local Swift Current Broncos are on the road today as they visit Moose Jaw in the second of their home and home games this week.