Swift Current Broncos win in regulation, now tied for first with Moose Jaw Warriors

The Swift Current Broncos hosted the Moose Jaw Warriors in a game that was a precursor to the playoff season. There was a lot of anticipation by the fans as they packed the Credit Union iPlex in another sold out game.

Before the game, the Broncos sat in second place in the Eastern Division standings with 89 points, a mere two points behind the first place Warriors. To say this was a must-win game for the home team is putting it lightly.
The starting lineup consisted of Stuart Skinner in net, Colby Sissons and Artyom Minulin on defence, and Matteo Gennaro, Kaden Elder, and Andrew Fyten up front. Scratches for the Broncos were MacKenzie Wight, Quinton Waitzner, and Connor Horning.

Artyom Minulin (photo-Darwin Knelsen)

A rough game was expected and that’s exactly what it was. Before the puck even dropped, Brecon Wood of Moose Jaw and hometown Bronco Andrew Fyten were pushing and shoving on the wing. Branden Klatt and Kole Gable would push and shove near the benches not long afterwards. Josh Anderson would later defend his zone, making a huge hit behind the Swift Current net, taking away any chance Moose Jaw had on Skinner.

But the visiting team would set the pace for most of the first period. A hit on Gable would send him to the ice in the neutral zone and turnovers would be the thorn in the Broncos side during the first period. Because of a tripping call on the Warriors captain, Brett Howden, Swift Current would get back in the game with a goal by Aleksi Heponiemi, assisted by Artyom Minulin and Giorgio Estephan. It was 1-0 for the Broncos. A power play goal by Yanner Jeannot after a penalty by Sahvan Khaira would even the score 1-1 before both teams would end the period with matching roughing penalties.

Stuart Skinner looked sharp in net, which he had to be because the shots on goal in the first period were 16-6 in favour of Moose Jaw. Kaden Elder played hard all evening long, but the first period was by far his best.

The second period was another feisty one with a plethora of penalties to fill an already intense game. Sissons and Tanner Jeannot exchanged words while Josh Anderson and Tristyn DeRoose took unsportsmanlike penalties. Noah King took down Brett Howden in the neutral zone and Tanner Nagel took a high-sticking penalty. Of all those infractions, not one goal would be scored as more ice was opened with four-on0four hockey and a power play for each sid. Moose Jaw would try to capitalize on some short-handed chances, but the Swift Current defence would hold them off.

With about 7:30 left in the clock in the middle period, a long pass up the ice in the Broncos zone would land on the stick of Giorgio Estephan, who would then pass it over to Max Patterson. Patterson would bury it and put Swift Current up 2-1. The Broncos would pepper the Moose Jaw net with bullets but they just couldn’t get another past Moose Jaw goalie Brody Willms. The score remained 2-1 for the home team heading into the final 20 minutes of play.

The third period was more hockey than feistiness by both teams. Kale Clague, who was a Team Canada teammate of Tyler Steenbergen’s during the World Juniors, proved why he’s one of the best defensemen in the WHL. He blocked shots in his own end and then provided offence in the Swift Current zone.

Glenn Gawdin (Darwin Knelsen)

It was a full five minutes of back and forth play with both teams putting a lot of pressure on the opposition’s net. But the home team would get a steak of good luck when Moose Jaw would take a tripping penalty against Steenbergen. The puck was sent down to the Warriors zone, where the goalie would bobble it. Glenn Gawdin would capitalize on it, pick it up behind the net, pass it out front to Beck Malenstyn, who would bury another goal for Swift Current. But the two goal lead would shrink as Moose Jaw closed the gap very quickly to make it 3-2 off a goal by Jayden Halbgewachs.

The Warriors would get their chance to take advantage of the Broncos when Swift Current would land in the penalty box for a call against Aleksi Heponiemi for hooking. Moose Jaw cycled the puck, set themselves up, and wouldn’t give up possession of the puck, but they just couldn’t capitalize on the one man advantage.

One more Moose Jaw penalty, late in the game, gave Swift Current the chance to extend their lead and they did. With a score of 4-2 for the home team, the Warriors would fight back with more chances in the Broncos zone, but it wouldn’t be enough to overtake Swift Current.

Traci’s 1 Star – Stuart Skinner
With 39 shots on net and 37 saves, Skinner worked hard in net all night and he was the deal-breaker. He tracked the puck, he held his position, and he defended the Swift Current net so well that the Broncos ended up winning in regulation.

Swift Current is now tied with Moose Jaw in first place in the Eastern Division with 91 points. But the Warriors have two games in hand, which means they could reinstate their sole first place position if they continue to win.

The Broncos are on another three-day break before they travel to Red Deer to take on the Rebels February 24th. February 25th, they will be in Edmonton to take on the Oil Kings and then they head to Calgary where they will be hosted by the Hitmen. Their next home game is March 2nd when they host the Prince Albert Raiders.