Bulldogs put bite on Swift Current Broncos
REGINA — Marian Studenic scored the winner as the Hamilton Bulldogs edged Swift Current 2-1 on Monday night to win their first game at the Memorial Cup despite a standout performance from Broncos goaltender Stuart Skinner.
Studenic received a back-door pass from Benjamin Gleason with just over two minutes remaining.
Skinner, an Edmonton Oilers prospect, stopped 54 shots in defeat and kept Hamilton shooters frustrated for the majority of the night.
Mackenzie Entwistle, on the power play, also scored for the Ontario Hockey League’s Bulldogs (1-1).
Hamilton gained a bit of breathing room in the Canadian major junior championship with the victory.
Colby Sissons found the back of the net for Swift Current (0-2), which faces a must-win game on Wednesday night against Western Hockey League rival and host Regina (1-1).
Kaden Fulcher made 20 saves to earn the win in net.
Skinner was at his best in the third period with several key stops that kept the game tied.
Fulcher made a point-blank save during a 4-on-4 opportunity midway through the third. The Bulldogs then came down at the other end of the ice and nearly scored on three straight opportunities that included a shot hitting the post twice.
Shortly after, Skinner made one more key save by stopping Robert Thomas who was in alone. He then robbed Thomas again moments later with a scrawling blocker save.
The Bulldogs were all over Hamilton in the first and finished the period with a 22-4 shot advantage.
Entwistle opened the scoring on the power play by collecting a juicy rebound and firing it into a wide-open net.
The goal came just as it appeared the Broncos would kill off an almost two-minute long 5-on-3 opportunity.
Hamilton’s strong play continued in the second, but Skinner kept his team in the game with a glove save on an Isaac Nurse breakaway.
Sissons launched a wrist shot from the point past Fulcher on a power play to finally get the Broncos on the board midway through the second.
Captain Glenn Gawdin almost gave Swift Current the lead 13 minutes into the second but Fulcher made two point-blank saves in tight to keep the game tied.
Swift Current was playing without key forward Tyler Steenbergen after he we was injured in the Broncos’ opener against Acadie-Bathurst. Swift Current coach Manny Viveiros said Monday morning that Steenbergen would be a game-time decision.
Hamilton wraps up round-robin play on Tuesday against the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Titan (2-0).
Colby Sissons found the back of the net for Swift Current (0-2), which faces a must-win game on Wednesday night against Western Hockey League rival and host Regina (1-1).