The Swift Current Broncos were coming off a 3-2 win at home against the Calgary Hitmen when they travelled to Brandon to take on the Wheat Kings. Swift Current was one point behind reigning Moose Jaw in the standings before Friday’s game. And thanks to a 6-3 loss to the Brandon Wheat Kings, remained that way.
As Shawn Mullin explained on Swift Current Online, the Broncos have stepped up to fill the gaps that left them blowing leads in recent games, and they held on for a big win against the Calgary Hitmen on Wednesday evening. An interview on the website with Aleksi Heponiemi revealed that the player was “expecting a good effort and a good game” against Brandon.
And it was. For the most part. With Stuart Skinner in net again, backed up by Colby Sissons and Artyom Minulin on the blue line, the defence was solid behind a beefed up starting forward line of Beck Malenstyn, Tanner Nagel, and Giorgio Estephan. Scratches for the Broncos were Jacson Alexander, Quinton Waitzner, and captain, Glenn Gawdin who was under the weather last game and sat out the third period. Matteo Gennaro slotted into the first line along with Aleksi Heponiemi and Tyler Steenbergen.
The Wheat Kings came out swinging in the beginning of the first period. But momentum turned suddenly as Kaden Elder made a surprise back-handed shovel at the Brandon net and buried the puck. Swift Current was up 1-0 early in spite of the Wheat Kings pressure in the Broncos end. Stuart Skinner may not have potted a goal, but he got the secondary assist on the Elder goal. Connor Horning received the primary assist. With more pressure by Brandon, Sahvan Khaira took a roughing penalty and the Broncos were on the defensive. Beck Malenstyn would pick up a mis-fired puck and give the Broncos a breakaway goal to put the visiting team up 2-0. Swift Current put more pressure on Brandon, but it was the goalies in the first period who stood out as the heroes. The period ended with Andrew Fyten in the penalty box for interference and Stuart Skinner standing on his head to keep the puck out of the net. It was 2-0 for the Broncos after 20 minutes even though the shots on net were 11-10 in favour of Brandon.
The penalty to Fyten expired with no goals scored, but Tyler Steenbergen took a rare boarding penalty shortly after. The Broncos seemingly couldn’t keep up with the pace of the Wheat Kings after both penalties and coach Manny Viveiros called a timeout. With the Swift Current team playing more physical hockey after the timeout, their play marginally improved. However, Brandon would earn the only shots on net until almost mid-period. Finally Swift Current would get a solid look with a pass from Regnier to Horning, but it was shot wide. Another chance by Minulin, when he picked up his own rebound off the back boards, would be the only other chance Swift Current would get by the ten-minute mark. The Wheat Kings speed out-maneuvered the visitors as Brandon would pick up a loose puck along the boards in the Broncos zone and dump it towards the net. Cole Reinhardt would get Brandon on the board and the score was 2-1. Less than a minute later, Evan Weinger would tie the game when a shot would squeak through Skinner, making the score 2-2. The Broncos wouldn’t accept the score and fought back with pressure on Thompson. They wanted their lead back and they got it. Tyler Steenbergen notched his 100th point of the season on his 46th goal and the Broncos were up 3-2. But Brandon wasn’t going out like that and tied the game 3-3 after 40 minutes.
The intensity was turned up a notch in the third period as both teams fought long and hard for the win. The Broncos just couldn’t keep up with the Wheat Kings. Dylan Myskiw took over the net for Brandon in place of Thompson. The Broncos buried the puck after Elder deflected a shot by Anderson, but it was called off as Beck Malenstyn took an interference penalty before the puck crossed the line. Malenstyn was visibly not impressed with the call. On the Swift Current penalty kill, Brandon capitalized with a power play goal, putting them ahead, 4-3. Seconds later, Swift Current was caught sitting back with their foot off the gas and the Wheat Kings capitalized again. The final score was 6-3 for the Brandon Wheat Kings after an empty-net-goal.
Traci’s 1 Star – Sahvan Khaira
In the past few weeks, Khaira has refined his defensive skills. He’s learning to control the excitable energy that he brings to the game and he’s making smart plays in the defensive zone. In spite of his penalties, he makes good choices and sacrifices himself in front of the net. When faced with the choice to allow a good chance on net or take a penalty that may have saved a play, his head is in the game and he offers up his best decisions.
Swift Current just can’t seem to win when Moose Jaw loses. This game was no exception. The Moose Jaw Warriors lost their game in regulation against the Prince Albert Raiders to stay at 101 points in the standings. The Swift Current Broncos also remain in the same place, right behind Moose Jaw, with 100 points.
The Broncos head to Moose Jaw to take on the Warriors tomorrow night. It’s a huge game, to say the least. In this final match-up between the top two teams in the league, every moment of that game will be important.
