PATS LOSE IN OVERTIME
Broncos stun Regina 5-4
The Swift Current Broncos are no pushovers.
After missing the playoffs in 2016, the Broncos have been one of the WHL’s most improved teams this season.
Their record would be even better if not for the league-leading Regina Pats (44-9-7-1), whose recent domination of Swift Current came to a dramatic halt on Sunday with a 5-4 overtime loss before 6,484 fans at the sold-out Brandt Centre.
The Pats have struggled against some of the WHL’s elite teams this season but they’ve generally had their way with the rest of the league. That includes the Broncos, who lost their first five meetings with Regina this season, including a 7-0 blowout on Friday at the Brandt Centre.
“You have to beat teams that are lower than you in the standings,” Pats head coach/GM John Paddock said after Friday’s win. “(Swift Current) is a good team. I don’t really have an explanation for (the one-sided season series). The games in Swift have been close. The (first) two here have been blowouts. That’s just the way it goes sometimes.”
Sunday’s contest was the third in three days for the Broncos, who also dropped a 5-2 decision in Moose Jaw on Saturday before returning to Regina less than 24 hours later.
The Pats had a rare day off Saturday
to rest their battered lineup, which was limited to just 10 healthy WHL forwards.
The latest addition to the injured list was Robbie Holmes, who hurt a shoulder on Friday. His loss forced the team to call up 15-year-old prospect Kjell Kjemhus, who made his WHL debut on Sunday.
His addition gave the team 11 forwards — one short of a full lineup. It wasn’t enough to beat the Broncos (31-20-4-6), who got a gametying power-play goal from Tyler Steenbergen with 12.6 seconds left in regulation. Ryley Lindgren added the winner with 1:44 left in overtime.
Regina got goals from four different players: Austin Wagner, Nick Henry, Dawson Leedahl and Sam Steel. Kole Gable, Steenbergen and Aleksi Heponiemi had the other markers for Swift Current, which erased a 4-2 third-period deficit.
Goaltender Jordan Hollett took the loss for the Pats, who outshot the Broncos 47-31. Taz Burman picked up the win.
EXTRAS: The Broncos were without two top forwards: Glenn Gawdin (illness) and Lane Pederson (suspension). Pederson received a two-game ban for a hit that injured Holmes on Friday night.