Papirny backstops Broncos to victory

Acquiring goaltender Jordan Papirny just prior to the WHL trade deadline paid off in a big way for the Swift Current Broncos.

The Edmonton product was outstanding for the Broncos in their opening-round playoff series against the Moose Jaw Warriors. Papirny made 40 saves and was named first star in Game 7 Monday in Moose Jaw, backstopping the Broncos to a 3-2 win and the series victory.

“I’ve never been part of a Game 7 in a playoff series before, so that was pretty cool,” Papirny said Tuesday.

The Broncos were slight underdogs heading into the series, having finished five points behind the Warriors in the East Division standings.

Swift Current acquired Papirny just prior to the Jan. 10 trade deadline from the Brandon Wheat Kings, where he spent the previous four seasons and won the WHL championship last year.

“There was definitely a little bit of an adjustment, I had never been traded before,” Papirny said.

Papirny made 40 saves in a 2-0 victory in the Game 1 of the series in Moose Jaw to give the Broncos the early advantage. Moose Jaw came back and won the next two games before the Broncos won Game 4, 5-2 to tie the series 2-2.

A 34-save performance in a 2-1, Game 5 victory, put the Broncos ahead in the series for a second time. They were unable to close things out at home in Game 6 on Saturday losing, 3-2, despite another 40 save performance by Papirny. But Swift Current jumped out to an early two-goal lead in Game 7 and were able to hang on for the victory.

“We believed in ourselves right from the start,” Papirny said.

Having dispatched the Warriors, the Broncos will now face the topranked Pats in the second round.

COUGARS UPSET IN OPENING ROUND

The Portland Winterhawks pulled off the biggest upset of the first round. The Winterhawks knocked off the Prince George Cougars in six games, clinching the series with a 4-2 win at home on Monday.

The Winterhawks won the first game of the series 4-2 in Prince George, but the Cougars stormed back with two decisive wins to seemingly take control of the series.

Portland, however, went on to win the next three games — two at home — to pull off the upset.

BEAR GETS TOP HONOURS

Seattle Thunderbirds defenceman and Edmonton Oilers prospect Ethan Bear was named WHL Player of the Week. Bear had two goals and five assists as the Thunderbirds swept the Tri-City Americans in the first round of the playoffs.