The Swift Current Broncos played three games in three days over the weekend and were unsuccessful at winning, but one thing has remained constant during their trying times. Joel Hofer and Isaac Poulter have kept the Broncos alive through most games and have been a strong tandem throughout the progress of the team this season.
Isaac Poulter, the 17-year-old from Winnipeg, Manitoba, started with the Swift Current Broncos this season,
coming from the Rink Hockey Academy Prep, where he played 17 regular season games last season and notched a 1.68 GAA and a save percentage of 0.938. In the playoffs last season, Poulter played five games and earned a 2.21 GAA and a save percentage of 0.920. During his time with Swift Current so far, Poulter has played six games, earned one win, a GAA of 3.53 and a save percentage of .909. He’s had a good start for a rookie goalie in the WHL, and he has a lot of time to progress alongside his young teammates.
18-year-old Joel Hofer came from Kelowna, B.C. where he played for the Pursuit of Excellence. He made his debut with Swift Current last season, playing in 19 games with the Broncos and splitting his time on ice first with Logan Flodell and then with Stuart Skinner. During the regular season last year, Hofer earned eight wins, three losses, and one shutout with a GAA of 2.61 and a save percentage of 0.914. So far this season in 15 games, he has two wins with a GAA of 4.32 and a save percentage of .900 as the starting goalie. He has been a consistent and reliable goalie throughout most of his career on ice.
November 9th
The Broncos travelled to Prince Albert to take on the top-ranked Raiders. Joel Hofer was in net for the visiting Broncos team. With Prince Albert taking 19 shots on net in the first period, Hofer stopped 18 and let one slip through. Even through a rough second period, letting in three goals on nine shots, Hofer got back into the game during the third. Swift Current earned two of their own goals to break the shutout against Donovan Buskey, but it wasn’t enough to win. The Raiders took the game 6-2, but Hofer walked away with 37 saves on 43 shots.
November 10th
The following day, the Broncos travelled to Regina to take on the Pats in a more evenly-played game. Isaac Poulter stood solid in net, allowing only two goals on 24 shots throughout the entire 60 minutes. With Max Paddock in net at the other end of the ice, this game could have been a lot worse than a 2-0 final score, but Poulter saved the game for the Broncos in what could have been a blowout by the Pats. This game also saw the exit of Eric Houk, who stood up against Carter Massier and ended up leaving the game in the second period, not to return. Poulter earned third star at the end of the game after making 22 saves and proving his worth as a rookie.
November 11th
Joel Hofer was back in net when the Broncos returned home for a special Remembrance Day game in Swift Current. After taking on Massier in the previous game, Eric Houk was not on the bench during this game. Poulter was backup after standing tall in net the day before. And the Broncos fought hard against the Red Deer Rebels through 60 minutes. With a 2-0 lead by the second period, Hofer faced a plethora of shots on net, but didn’t allow any goals until the middle frame. In total, Hofer stopped 42 of 44 shots through regulation. But it was the dagger in overtime on three shots that notched another loss for the Broncos. Making 44 saves on 47 shots through the entire game, Hofer earned second star of the game in a well-fought battle against the Rebels.
The Swift Current Broncos are back on home ice Wednesday November 14th when they host the Tri-City Americans. They host the Medicine Hat Tigers on Saturday November 17th.
