2013: THE SPORTING YEAR IN REVIEW

This past year was a memorable sporting year across Southwest Saskatchewan.

There were a number of championships on the ice and on the field, and some individual accomplishments also generated headlines. January 10 Merkley joins Broncos after Derko dealt to Lethbridge The Swift Current Broncos have made a two for one deal with the Lethbridge Hurricanes to acquire Jay Merkley from the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

In the deal announced late on Jan. 7, the Broncos acquired Merkley in exchange for veteran forward Josh Derko and a third round pick in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft.

Merkley, who was the WHL’s third overall selection in the 2010 Bantam Draft, is a talented offensive prospect, already having 14 goals and 22 points in 44 games so far this season.

In his rookie 16-year-old season the 5’11, 187-pound Calgary product had 12 goals and 23 points over 58 games. Martin excels at World Hockey Challenge Swift Current Broncos rookie defenseman Brycen Martin had a spectacular tournament for Team Pacific at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Drummondville, Quebec.

Martin, 16, registered at least a point in all five games to help Team Pacific finish fifth at the 10team event comprised of five regional Canadian teams and five international squads. He finished the tournament with two goals and seven assists to lead all defenseman at the tournament and tied for sixth in tournament scoring overall. Lowry named Player of the Month A torrid month of December has resulted in HUSKY WHL Player of the Month honours for Swift Current Broncos captain Adam Lowry. Lowry, 19, registered 21 points during the month of December with 13 goals, eight assists, and a plus-seven rating.

The 6’5’’ centre rode a 17-game point streak into Wednesday’s game with 30 points during a streak that began back on Nov. 27.

Lowry currently sits seventh in WHL scoring with 56 points in 43 games and had already set career highs with 27 goals and 29 assists. Wall caps year with Baseball Canada award When Bradi Wall looks back on 2012 she may remember it as the pinnacle of her athletic career.

The Swift Current Minor Baseball product played her first NCAA season with the Iowa State Hawkeyes womens softball team and flawlessly made the transition back to baseball to help lead Team Canada to a bronze medal at the IBAF Women’s World Baseball Cup in Edmonton in August of 2012.