Glenn Gawdin notched a hat trick to lead the Swift Current Broncos to a 5-3 win over the Kootenay Ice in a penalty-riddled affair on Saturday at Western Financial Place.
The two teams were tied up 3-3 going into the final frame, however, Gawdin tallied his hat trick for the game winner halfway through the frame.
Additional scoring from the Broncos included Artyom Minulin and Matteo Gennaro, while the Ice got offensive contributions from Alec Baer and a pair from Brett Davis.
“I really liked how we worked and competed,” said Ice head coach James Patrick. “I thought we cracked in the third period, gave up a four-on-three they eventually scored on and we just came a little unglued, took some undisciplined penalties.
“I thought the game got so out of hand with all the penalties, so it was frustrating.”
Ice goaltender Duncan McGovern played out much of the game, however, he got tossed for a five-minute match penalty in the last 10 minutes of the game after mixing it up in a scrum in front of the net.
McGovern made 25 stops before Matt Berlin took over for seven saves in the last eight minutes of the game. Stuart Skinner, a third-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers, made 36 saves for the win.
Davis tallied his first five minutes into the night, scoring just as one penalty of a two-man advantage expired.
Minulin evened it up for the Broncos on a powerplay goal of their own five minutes later.
Gawdin put Swift Current ahead, poking in a rebound that had settled in the crease, but Baer tied it right back up, scoring just after an offensive zone faceoff with a shot that went post and in.
In the second period, Davis pulled ahead with his second goal of the night on another powerplay, but Gawdin did the same at even-strength, tipping a shot from the point with 49 seconds left in the frame.
Even at 3-3 in the final period, Gawdin drove the net and put in a cross-ice pass before colliding into McGovern. That set off a big scrum that resulted in a five-minute match penalty that ejected McGovern from the game, while Gawdin got tagged with two spearing minors and Colton Veloso served a minor for roughing.
Gennaro tucked in a backhand on the ensuing five-minute powerplay to make it 5-3.
All in all, there were 41 penalties minutes called in the game, not including two ten-minute misconducts.
It seemed after every whistle, players were squaring up and jawing at each other.
“It gets you in the game, it gets me in the game, being that agitator out there,” said Cameron Hausinger. “There’s moments you can pick out to find those areas to try and get under guys’ skin and taking a penalty that was completely unnecessary — emotions got to us, the game got to us a little big, maybe the fatigue, but you got to pick your spots when you want to do that kind of stuff, especially at the end of the game.”
In terms of effort, Patrick said he was satisfied with how the team played against the Broncos as opposed to the last two home games against the Chiefs and the Oil Kings.
“I just thought it was a lot better effort than our last two games,” Patrick said. “I think if we play this way, we’ll have some success. Hopefully if we can bring this attitude and effort on the road, we’ll be a lot better.
The Ice have lost three in a row, but are still in third place in the division and hold a playoff spot. The Red Deer Rebels have caught fire lately and are only seven points back.
The Ice are heading out into the flatlands for a tough four-game road trip against the Saskatoon Blades, Prince Albert Raiders, Regina Pats and Moose Jaw Warriors.
Attendance numbers
The Kootenay Ice have seen a rise, on average, in home attendance figures this season after reaching historic lows last year.
Last year’s average attendance numbers reached 1,754, while this season’s numbers are averaging around 2,400.
The club just had a season high crowd of 3,474 for Pink the Rink night against the Brandon Wheat Kings on Saturday, Jan. 27th. However, there was a season-low attendance a week earlier with 2,054.
Kootenay just wrapped up their longest home stand of the year with seven games that saw an average attendance of 2,275 if Pink the Rink night is excluded.
“It was great to see the type of energy the building can have when there is 3000-plus at a game,” said Ice owner/president/GM Matt Cockell, in a statement. “The attendance however, on totality was disappointing. We are grateful to those that come out to support us.”
