It was another wild night in Swift Current as the Broncos hosted the Prince Albert Raiders. With Stuart Skinner in net, Colby Sissons and Artyom Minulin manning the blue line, and the fire power of Glenn Gawdin, Tyler Steenbergen, and Max Patterson up front, Swift Current stole the show early, which set the tone for the rest of the game.
A mere 22 seconds into the game, Gawdin would score unassisted as Steenbergen distracted the Raiders behind their own net. The home team would put a lot of pressure on the visitors throughout the first 20 minutes giving them plenty of chances. They’d capitalize on most of them. Beck Malenstyn bounced one of the Prince Albert players into his own bench causing the visiting team to try to push back. But the pucks always seemed to end up in the Raiders zone in spite of their effort. Gawdin would earn his second goal of the night and his 99th point of the season to put the home team up 2-0. With the help of Malenstyn and Tanner Nagel, Giorgio Estephan drove to the net to give the Broncos a 3-0 cushion. The pressure was starting to get to the Raiders in the form of penalties. They took a couple of interference calls and a roughing penalty that would lead to the Broncos fourth goal of the period. It was 4-0 Broncos after the first period.
Kaden Elder opened the middle period with another quick goal for Swift Current, his 13th of the season. With a 5-0 lead, the home team started looking a little sluggish after the fifth goal and Prince Albert would finally be able to put some pressure on the Broncos. But it would take them until just over six minutes left in the second period to capitalize and break the shutout bid for Skinner. Swift Current was on the defensive for most of the period and their frustration got the best of them near the end of the period. Both teams would get into scuffles behind the nets which resulted in a parade of players on both sides going to the penalty box. The score was 5-1 Swift Current heading into the final frame.
With Gawdin on the brink of 100 points, he tried all third period to push himself for the milestone. It didn’t happen and he finished the game with 99 points on the season, which is nothing to be disappointed about. Max Patterson was feisty all night long, taking his forecheck to the next level. He had a partial breakaway in the third, but the Raiders defense stonewalled him. Gawdin was blatantly being held against the boards in the Raiders zone, but it was in the third period, the Broncos were up 5-1, and the refs didn’t make the call, much to the chagrin of the majority of the 2870 fans. And again, a little later, Elder would take an elbow to the face that went uncalled as well. Even though it was a physical game throughout the first 40 minutes, the final 20 minutes exemplified the rivalry between these two teams. Minulin and Raiders Curtis Miske would land in their respective boxes for roughing. Prince Albert would take another infraction for hooking. And then Jacson Alexander would take a checking from behind penalty. Nagel and one of the Raiders players would chuck fists after the final buzzer, but the final score would remain 5-1 for the hometown Swift Current Broncos.
Traci’s 1 Star Of The Game – Glenn Gawdin
He dominates along the boards, he gets bursts of speed and energy that lead to scoring chances, and he is a born leader. With two goals throughout the game, he proved why he’s been an asset to the Broncos since the his arrival. When Gawdin shows up to play, he gives it everything he has every game. He’s a fan favourite every night and I’m expecting the packed house in Swift Current to explode if he gets his 100th point on Saturday against the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Swift Current hosts the Brandon Wheat Kings Saturday, February 10th at the Credit Union iPlex. Puck drop is 7pm local time.
