Broncos wrap up first half of regular season
The Swift Current Broncos played three games last week to reach the midway point of the 2020-21 Western Hockey League regular season at the Subway Hub Centre in Regina.
Monday, the Broncos had their worst defensive performance of the season in a 9-4 loss to the Regina Pats.
The Pats took advantage of some poor defensive coverage for first-period goals from Carson Denomie, Zack Smith, and Logan Nijhoff. Eric Houk scored for the Broncos when he tipped home an Owen Pickering centering feed as the Broncos took advantage of a Pats defensive breakdown.
The Broncos were outscored 4-3 in the second period to fall behind 7-4. Mathew Ward, with his first career goal, Bode Hagan, and Owen Williams all scored for the Broncos.
Smith, Easton Armstrong, Connor Bedard, and Sloan Stanick counted for the Pats.
Denomie and Carter Massier scored for the Pats in the third period to round out the scoring.
Rookie Reid Dyck took the loss with 31 saves. Veteran Roddy Ross earned his first win of the season with 25 saves.
The Pats finished twofor-five on the power play. The Broncos scored once on four man-advantages.
Thursday, the Broncos got goals from eight different skaters in an 8-5 win over the slumping Moose Jaw Warriors. The Broncos snapped a twogame losing streak as the Warriors’ winless streak reached six games.
The Broncos led 4-2 after one period on goals from Houk, Jordan Borysiuk, Caleb Wyrostock, and Kaleb Bulych. Jagger Firkus and Calder Anderson replied for the Warriors.
The Broncos lost the special teams battle in the second period as Daemon Hunt and Brad Ginnell scored on the power play and Atley Calvert scored while shorthanded to put the Warriors ahead 5-4. Rookie defenseman Owen Pickering responded for the Broncos with his first WHL goal with 20 seconds remaining in the period to tie the game.
Rookie Mathew Ward notched the game winner 3:14 into the third period when he beat Brett Mirwald cleanly with a wrist shot to the blocker side. Aiden Bulych added an insurance goal to complete a three-point outing and Michael Farren scored into an empty net to complete his threepoint outing.
Isaac Poulter made 18 saves to improve to 2-51-0 for the Broncos. Mirwald dropped to 1-4-1-0 with 28 saves for the Warriors, who fell to 4-6-1-0.
Saturday, the Broncos were unable to secure their first winning streak of the season as they suffered a 4-2 loss to the Prince Albert Raiders.
The Broncos lost the special teams battle in the opening frame as they allowed power play goals from Dallyn Peekeekoot and Justin Nachbaur. The Broncos replied with a Sam Mcginley goal on a screened point shot.
The Raiders doubled their lead in the second period when Spencer Moe notched his first of the season.
Josh Filmon cut the lead in half with a breakaway goal early in the third period, but Eric Pearce replied with an empty net goal for the Raiders.
Poulter fell to 2-6-1-0 for the Broncos with 22 saves. Max Paddock improved to 3-3-0-0 with 19 saves.
The Raiders scored twice on three man-advantages, while the Broncos failed to capitalize on four power plays.
The Broncos will play three games this week, beginning Friday at 8 p.m. against the Moose Jaw Warriors. The Broncos will also face the Prince Albert Raiders on Sunday at 4 p.m. and the Saskatoon Blades on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Chase Lacombe skated in his first game of the season on Thursday. The Moose Jaw native played 19 games with the Broncos last season. Rookie
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defenseman Owen Pickering was named to the East Division Team of the Week after registering one goal, three assists, and a plus three rating in three games last week.