BRONCOS AGAIN DROP THREE STRAIGHT
The Swift Current Broncos suffered a trio of losses to Central Division rivals.
During the same week that it was officially announced that they would be moving to the Central Division next season, the Swift Current Broncos lost three straight games to Central Division opponents.
Wednesday, the Broncos were slow out of the gates in a 6-2 loss to the visiting Calgary Hitmen.
The game was essentially over in the opening period when the Hitmen scored four goals on 18 shots. Cael Zimmerman opened the scoring only 3:29 into the game. Ethan O’rourke put a rebound home for his fifth straight game with a goal midway through the period to tie the game.
The Hitmen quickly responded with goals 18 seconds apart from Layne Toder and James Malm and then Luke Coleman scored on the power play with 35 second left in the period to put the game out of reach.
The Broncos cut into the lead in the second period when Ian Briscoe buried a power play goal from just above the goal line only minutes after he had been stopped on a power play chance.
Malm added his second goal of the game on a breakaway 5:18 into the final frame. Kaden Elder added a power play goal against his former team midway through the period.
Broncos starter Riley Lamb fell to 2–2-0-0 with 14 saves on 18 shots in the first period. Rookie Isaac Poulter worked the final 40 minutes and made 23 saves on 25 shots. Brayden Peters made 30 saves in his WHL debut for the Hitmen.
Friday, the Broncos allowed two unanswered third-period goals in a 3-2 loss to the host Kootenay ICE.
The Broncos led 2-1 in the third period before Connor Mcclennon tied the game and Jaeger White notched the game winner with 52 seconds remaining in regulation.
Mcclennon had opened the scoring midway through the first period. Owen Blocker tied the game 5:58 later with his fourth goal of the season.
Rookie defenseman Christian Riemer gave the Broncos the lead with his first WHL goal in the second period.
Poulter made 28 saves in the loss to fall to 2-13-0-0, while Jesse Makaj improved to 4-15-5-1 with 24 saves.
Saturday, the Broncos suffered a 4-2 loss to the host Lethbridge Hurricanes.
Danila Palivko, Jordy Bellerive, Noah Boyko, and Calen Addison scored for the home team.
Ethan Regnier scored on a penalty shot in the first period to tie the game with his eighth goal of the season for the Broncos. Connor Horning closed the scoring with a power play goal in the second period.
Lamb fell to 2–3-0-0 with 41 saves for the Broncos. Carl Tetachuk improved to 13-6-0-0 with 15 saves.
Both teams finished one-for-four on the power play.
The Broncos visit the Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday. They are at home on Saturday to face the Saskatoon Blades at 5 p.m. on Hockey Day in Canada.
The Broncos will also host the Prince Albert Raiders, the top ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League, on Wednesday.
Broncos Bits: Overage defenseman Matthew Stanley led all WHL skaters with 114 penalty minutes in 38 games. The Broncos had a 7-17-2-1 record at home and a 3-20-0-0 record on the road. The Broncos have allowed nine shorthanded goals this season, tied for fourth most in the WHL. The Lethbridge Hurricanes have allowed a league-high 15 shorthanded goals.