The Swift Current Broncos got back from a road trip that was successful in terms of development and returned to play two games at home and one in Regina. What started out as promising quickly turned to problematic and then back again.
October 27th, Swift Current Broncos vs Everett Silvertips
On October 27th, the Broncos hosted former Broncos defenseman, Sahvan Khaira and the Everett Silvertips. The effort by Swift Current was evident in the first period, but it quickly fizzled away. Everett got on the board first, but Tanner Nagel tied it up in the first 20 minutes. The second period saw Swift Current playing on the defensive with very few good chances. With two short-handed goals and an empty net goal, the Silvertips ended with a 4-1 win. Power plays were a problem for the Broncos as the game played out and they couldn’t capitalize on their man-advantages.
October 28th, Swift Current Broncos @ Regina Pats
Swift Current portrayed another lackluster performance. Like usual, Swift Current opened with effort and the promise of looking better than the previous game. They kept up with the Pats in almost every way, but just couldn’t seem to bury the puck. They were caught sitting back at the end of the period when the Pats Leschyshyn opened the scoring. With a score of 1-0 heading into the middle frame, the flood gates opened and Regina took complete control of the game. But the Broncos broke the shutout with a nice goal from Joona Kiviniemi at the end of the second period, making the score 4-1 for Regina. In the end, the Pats added another three goals in the final period for a score of 7-1. Again, the Broncos power play needed to be addressed, but it wasn’t quite as bad as the game against Everett.
October 30th, Swift Current vs Kootenay Ice
Before the pre-Halloween game in Swift Current on October 30th, the club announced that Carter Spenst had been reassigned to the midget Canadian Sport Hockey League (CSSHL) in Edmonton.
That evening, the Broncos hosted the Kootenay ICE in what was their best game yet this season. They faced the Ice head-on with good chances on net, an improved power play, and an effective penalty kill. It was an interesting first period as Eric Houk got things started with a fight against Kootenay’s Jordan Chudley. A goal by Ethan Regnier would give the Broncos a 1-0 edge over the Ice for most of the game until the very end. With a boarding call on Ethan O’Rourke, the ICE tied the game with about five minutes left in regulation. Overtime solved nothing and the teams were headed to a shootout. Kootenay slipped past Swift Current in the shootout to take a 2-1 win, but the Broncos earned a point in the standings.
With no intent to insult Kootenay, because they played a great game and Peyton Krebs was fun to watch, the Broncos deserved that win. When you consider the struggles the small-town team has gone through and the roller coaster ride they’ve been on this season, they needed it, but the shootout proved a little more than they could handle. But that’s not to diminish what they had achieved throughout that game.
It’s been a whirlwind of a season so far with one win and 15 losses, but the progress is there. Individually, they are developing and growing as players even though there is much work to be done as a team.
In the true spirit of what the community of Swift Current is all about, equipment assistant, Nolan Paradis was recently honoured with the Great Work Award from SARC (Saskatchewan Association of Rehabilitation Centres) for his work alongside the Swift Current Broncos. Nolan is a local celebrity among the small community that has welcomed him not only in the Broncos organization but also among the golf and baseball crowd. Nolan spent the off-season working and volunteering for the Swift Current 57s as well as at the Chinook Golf Course. For his dedication and loyalty to the Broncos organization, Nolan has earned the hearts of Swift Current and his work in hockey has been rewarded. Congratulations, Nolan!
