Broncos rise to top of Eastern Conference

The Swift Current Broncos won both of their games last week to take over top spot in the Eastern Conference standings. The Broncos finished the weekend in top spot with a 19- 11-0-3 record for a onepoint lead over the Calgary Hitmen for top spot in the conference.

It wasn’t pretty on Wednesday, but the Broncos got the job done.

The Broncos skated past the last-place Lethbridge Hurricanes with a 4-1 win.

The Broncos moved into top spot in the Eastern Conference with goals from four different skaters against the visiting Hurricanes.

Captain Colby Cave launched the teddy bear toss only 1:53 into the game with his 17th goal of the season when he knocked home a rebound on a Graham Black rush.

Defenseman Brett Lernout made it 2-0 when his point shot found its way through traffic at the 11:47 mark of the first period. Jay Merkley stretched the lead to 3-0 with his 13th goal with 51 seconds remaining in the second period.

Eetu Laurikainen was outstanding in goal with 35 saves to improve to 10-9-02 for the Broncos.

Carter Folk scored the Hurricanes’ only goal, his first in the WHL, midway through the third period to cut the deficit to 3-1 before Black scored into an empty net with 1:01 remaining to complete a three-point night.

Corbin Boes made 39 saves on 42 shots to fall to 2-19-2-2.

Friday, the Broncos won their third straight game with a 4-3 win over the host Brandon Wheat Kings to temporarily stretch their lead atop the standings.

Andrew Johnson’s goal with 6:24 remaining in the second period held up as the game winner as the Broncos now have five of a possible six points in three games versus Brandon with the road team winning each time.

Dakota Odgers got the Broncos out to an outstanding start when he scored his first Western Hockey League goal only 13 seconds after the opening face-off.

John Quenneville and Richard Nejezchleb quickly replied for Brandon for a 21 lead after one period.

The Broncos replied with three straight goals in the second period to take a 4-2 lead. Cavin Leth scored his second of the season and Cave scored his team leading 18th before Johnson scored his fourth of the season.

Rihards Bukarts replied for Brandon in the second period to make it 4-3 before a scoreless third period.

Laurikainen made 38 saves to improve to 11-9-02. Jordan Papirny got the start for Brandon and took the loss with 15 saves on 19 shots over two periods to fall to 9-8-2-0. Curtis Honey stopped all seven shots he faced in the third period in relief.

“It was a good game,” said Broncos’ veteran forward Zac Mackay. “We went in thinking that they were going to come out hard and they did. We got up and got down, but I think that we stayed focused for the whole 60 minutes, which we haven’t been able to do quite often as of late. I think that was a big win for us. It was character win and some other guys chipped in which was good.”

The Broncos have built up a five-point lead in the East Division with a 13-2-02 record against division opponents.

“They are all good teams,” said Mackay. “But we know that those games are going to either haunt us or get us home-ice advantage or a playoff spot even. We want to go into those games thinking that they are the most important games right now and I think that is what we have done and why we have been successful.”

The Broncos lead the standings after the weekend but three teams were within two points and all three held at least three games in hand.

“I think we are just going to have to keep playing,” said Mackay.

“Obviously some teams we have a lot of games on them, so we are just going to have to wait and see what that brings. We can’t worry about them, we just have to worry about ourselves and keep playing the way we are playing.”

The Broncos have been dealing with recent injuries to Coda Gordon, Justin Spagrud, and defenseman Jordan Harris.

“I think it has been really good. A lot of young guys have got some opportunities to jump up in the lineup and have been playing a lot bigger role,” noted Mackay. “I think they have done an exceptional job of doing that. That helps a team a lot when you have a push from underneath and those other guys scoring goals and getting chippy. It feels good for the top guys and gives us some room to breathe.”