Broncos win WHL title

A pair of former Lethbridge Hurricanes have helped the Swift Current Broncos to their first Western Hockey League title since 1992-93.

Former Canes captain Giorgio Estephan opened the scoring and goaltender Stuart Skinner stopped all 31 shots he faced as the Broncos blanked the Everett Silvertips 3-0 in Game 6 of the WHL finals to win this year’s Ed Chynoweth Cup.

Aleksi Heponiemi and Beck Malenstyn — into an empty net with seven seconds left — also scored for Swift Current, who now head down the road to Regina for the Memorial Cup May 17-27.

Earlier Sunday, the Ontario Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League representatives were also decided.

The Hamilton Bulldogs defeated the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 5-4 in Game 6 to capture the OHL title in six games, while the Acadie-Bathurst Titan are also Regina-bound after downing the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 2-1 in Game 6 of the QMJHL final.

Estephan, Skinner and forward Tanner Nagel were part of the Hurricanes Jan. 9 pre-trade deadline blockbuster deal that saw the trio head to Swift Current in exchange for forward Logan Barlage and Owen Blocker, defenceman Matthew Stanley and goaltender Logan Flodell.

In 26 playoff games for the Broncos, Estephan had 13 goals and 23 points, while Skinner’s shutout Sunday was his sixth of the post season as the Edmonton Oilers prospect went 16-8 with two overtime losses to go along with a 2.20 goals against average and a .932 save percentage.

Nagel had one goal and two points in 26 playoff games.