DUBNetwork Feature Game of the Night: November 9, 2019 Swift Current Broncos 3-10-1-2 @
Moose Jaw Warriors 8-7-1-0 7:00PM (MDT)
In an all Saskatchewan battle, the struggling Swift Current Broncos pay a visit to their provincial rivals, the Moose Jaw Warriors. The Broncos have really struggled this season, picking up only one win in their last 10 games including losing their last four straight games. The Warriors on the other hand have had an up and down season so far, but have slipped a little in their last 10 games picking up only three wins. The power play has not been the Broncos’ friend this year as they have only been able to capitalize on 6 out of 47 chances on the man advantage this season.
The Warriors’ power play has been a strength of the team so far as they are currently operating at 24.14% efficiency. This is the first of six meetings between the two teams this season.
This season has been a real challenge for the Broncos early on. With only three wins in their first 16 games, the team that won the WHL championship two seasons ago seems like a distant memory. Maybe a blessing in disguise, the Broncos had an unscheduled off night on Friday when their game against the Regina Pats was cancelled due to ice plant issues at the Brandt Centre in Regina. This past Wednesday night, the Broncos were in Lethbridge for the first of seven meetings with the Hurricanes this season, losing the game 4-1. The lone goal of the game for the Broncos ended a streak of 216:41 minutes between goals for the team, who hadn’t found the back of the net since the 5:15 mark of the first period against the Brandon Wheat Kings on October 26.
This year’s team has been led offensively by defenceman Kasper Puutio. The first year import defenceman has eight points in his first 16 games in the WHL. The Vaasa, Finland native was the first overall selection in the CHL import draft this past summer. Up front the team is led by third year forward Ethan Regnier. Last season Regnier posted a career high 31 points in 68 games. This season, like most of his teammates, is off to a slow start collecting only six points in 14 games. The Broncos team will look a little different tonight as two days ago they made a blockbuster deal with the Red Deer Rebels. The Broncos acquired forward Jordan
Borysiuk, forward Cohner Saleski, forward Parker Lalonde and a third-round pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft from the Red Deer Rebels in exchange for forward Ben King. Last season
the Broncos took only one of six meetings against the Warriors, a 4-3 overtime win in Moose Jaw on December 27, 2018.
This season’s Warriors team is led by perhaps a surprising face, Ryder Korczak is the team’s leader in scoring, he was acquired as part of the Jett Woo blockbuster deal at the WHL Bantam Draft this past offseason. Perhaps not seen as the main piece of the trade, Korczak has exploded offensively in Moose Jaw with 25 points in 16 games. He recorded just 15 points in 50 games with the Calgary Hitmen last season. Anaheim Ducks first round pick from the 2019 NHL entry draft Brayden Tracey returned to the Warriors after missing the team’s first six games of the year while attending Ducks training camp. Tracey, who is in his second full season with the Warriors put up 81 points in 66 games a year ago. Of those 81 points he scored, 36 of them were goals to finish second on the team, behind only Tristin Langan, who had 53. This season Tracey has posted eight goals and 10 assists in just 10 games.
Helping Korczak and Tracey up front has been another new face to the Warriors this season in overage centre, Jadon Joseph. Joseph had a very busy season last year suiting up for three different teams. He
started the season with the Lethbridge Hurricanes the team that drafted him back in 2014, he then was sent to the Regina Pats in which he played only 13 games for and finally he found his final destination of the season with the Vancouver Giants. In the end Joseph posted 22 goals and 53 points combined between the three teams. He also had 12 points in 22 playoff games helping the Giants reach the WHL finals.
Owen Hardy, a third new face to the Warriors this season, came over in an early season trade with the Giants and has fit in nicely with his new team picking up six goals and seven points with the Warriors in 12 games. Daemon Hunt leads the team on the back end. With nine points in 16 games Hunt is well on his way to shatter his career high in points (20), which he set last season.
Like the Broncos, the Warriors made a trade this week as on Wednesday they acquired import defenceman Libor Zabransky from the Saskatoon Blades in exchange for a 7th round pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft.
Expected in goal:
• Isaac Poulter (Swift Current)-Poulter, now in his second season in the WHL played in 25 games in his rookie season with the Broncos. He collected three wins and posted a 4.25 GAA and a .891SAV%. This season in 11 games played Poulter has already picked up three wins and has a GAA of 3.31 and a 0.914SAV%
• Adam Evanoff (Moose Jaw) – Evanoff, now in his third season with the Warriors, had missed the first six weeks of the regular season recovering from an injury. He has appeared in three games this season and has picked up two wins. Last season, Evanoff played in 36 games for the Warriors winning 19 of them while posting a 2.62 GAA and a .916SAV%.
Also in action:
Red Deer Rebels @Prince Albert Raiders 7pm CST
-The Rebels, who have dropped three straight now face the WHL’s leading scorer in Aliaksei Protas.
Brandon Wheat Kings @Saskatoon Blades 7pm CST
-The Blades will try and push their win streak to three games tonight vs the Wheaties.
Regina Pats @Winnipeg ICE 7:30pm CST
-Winnipeg won the lone contest so far this season, 5-2.
Calgary Hitmen @Edmonton Oil Kings 7pm MST
-The Hitmen have slipped in the very tough Central Division. A regulation win over the second place Oil Kings would certainly help them keep pace.
Tri-City Americans @Lethbridge Hurricanes 7pm MST
-The Americans started their three-game trip through Alberta with a thrilling win in Calgary. Now they get to try and stop the Oliver Okuliar and Dylan Cozens show.
Vancouver Giants @Portland Winterhawks 6pm PST
-The Giants played a stellar defensive game in Langley to beat the Winterhawks for the first time since the 2017-18 season. They now head to Portland for the last part of the home-and-home this weekend.
Everett Silvertips @Seattle Thunderbirds 6:05pm PST
-It was a goalie duel the last time these two did battle. Will the addition of Cole Fonstad make this one a little more offensive?
Medicine Hat Tigers @Kamloops Blazers 7pm PST
–Brett Kemp will try and extend his point streak to 12 games tonight. One of his opponents, Connor Zary has the current longest point streak with 13 from earlier this season.
Victoria Royals @Prince George Cougars 7pm PST
-Every contest between the two teams has been tight.
Kelowna Rockets @Spokane Chiefs 7pm PST
-The Chiefs dropped their third straight at home to the Everett Silvertips last night. The Rockets gave up eight goals to the Medicine Hat Tigers. Both are looking for bounce back performances.
