The Swift Current Broncos travelled to Calgary to take on the Hitmen in a special game. This game was called the Be Brave Anti-Bullying Game. The Hitmen hosted the Broncos in front of a crowd full of kids who were educated on the importance of acceptance and anti-bullying. You can read more about the special day on the Calgary Hitmen website.
Stuart Skinner started in net and a last minute change saw defenseman Sahvan Khaira leave the ice after warmups and not return. Josh Anderson took his place on the blue line to start with Noah King. Team captain Glenn Gawdin took the starting face-off with Giorgio Estephan and Matteo Gennaro on the wing. Another surprise move by Swift Current saw Quinton Waitzner slot into the lineup last minute as well. After taking a fall to the ice in the previous game, Tanner Nagel sat this one out. Nagel, in seemingly good spirits, tweeted recently that he was doing fine and that he’s now sporting a few stitches.
The first period opened with a lot of back-and-forth play, but it would be Calgary that would get on the scoreboard first with a goal by Jakob Stukel. The Broncos just couldn’t seem to break past the Hitmen defence. Former Swift Current player, Riley Stotts, capitalized on another Broncos turnover to make the score 2-0 for the home team.
MacKenzie Wight, who just got back in the lineup, fought for his position with a set up by Ethan Regnier, but Calgary goalie Nick Schneider stopped his rebound attempt. Wight would make his case with another set up by Gennaro on the rebound. Wight banged it home to put the Broncos on the board, 2-1. The goal was his first this year. The last time he found the net was March 25th in the playoff series with Moose Jaw.
Gennaro would take a high-sticking penalty while another former Swift Current player, Schmeimann would be called for slashing at the same time. But that 4-on-4 would be cut short as Colby Sissons would land in the penalty box for tripping. Calgary would capitalize on their power play and finalize the score 3-1 at the end of 20 minutes.
Stuart Skinner would sit on the bench to start the middle period. Joel Hofer took over in net. It was a physical period by both teams. Kole Gable would exchange words at centre ice before the puck even dropped. A scuffle behind the Calgary net would see Wight knocking the helmet off one of the Hitmen. Then Schmiemann would take a run at one of the Broncos and Josh Anderson would give out a verbal warning.
Schmiemann was a tough competitor against his former team, getting into the mix of things as often as possible, drawing penalties out of the Broncos players, and throwing his weight around. Beck Malenstyn would take an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty because of Schmiemann. Both Beck Malenstyn and Gennaro both got distracted by Schmiemann throughout most of the second period.
With some pressure by the Broncos on the Hitmen net, Swift Current just couldn’t get one past Schneider even with a few good chances. But their efforts would prove fruitful around mid-period as 16 year old, Jacson Alexander would pot his first WHL goal to bring the Broncos within one goal of the Hitmen, 3-2.
An effective Swift Current penalty kill would even the score 3-3 with Tyler Steenbergen’s 44th goal of the season. Before the end of the period, Steenbergen would take an uncharacteristic penalty for holding, but the Broncos would kill off that penalty unscathed. The score was knotted at three after 40 minutes.
The pace settled in the beginning of the third period, but the game was far from over. Artyom Minulin took an interference call before blocking a shot that seemed to sting a little, but he’d remain in the game. Max Patterson took a checking to the head penalty. And the Hitmen would show their frustrations with a parade to the penalty box throughout the final frame as well.
Swift Current would take the lead, 4-3 though, after Glenn Gawdin notched his 55th goal of the season on a power play. A short handed goal by Calgary’s Carson Focht would even the score 4-4 again though. Another power play goal by the Broncos would give them the edge thanks to Giorgio Estephan. And with just over two minutes left in regulation, Beck Malenstyn would finalize the score at 6-4 for the visiting team.
Joel Hofer made 18 saves on 19 shots during his two periods in net. Aleksi Heponiemi had four assists on six goals. And Colby Sissons earned three assists on six goals. The total shots on net were 34-28 in favour of Swift Current.
Traci’s 1 Star – Tyler Steenbergen
With one goal, one assist, a +2 rating, and another almost breakaway goal at the end of regulation, Steenbergen has proven again why he was chosen to play in the World Juniors on Team Canada. He was and still is a Canadian hockey darling. He still remains high in the WHL stats in 5th place for first goals and 3rd place in plus/minus. He’s also still a fan favourite in Swift Current and, I think, he always will be.
The Broncos will now return home and prepare to host the Prince Albert Raiders on Friday, March 2nd. The Broncos will then host the Edmonton Oil Kings in Swift Current the following evening, Saturday, March 3rd.
