Broncos continue success against U.S. Division
The Swift Current Broncos continued their strong results on home ice and against U.S. Division opponents with a pair of wins over the weekend.
Friday, the Broncos moved to 2-0 against U.S. Division teams with a 4-3 shootout win over the visiting Portland Winterhawks.
Rylan Gould scored the winning shootout goal as the Broncos earned points in a game they were trailing after two periods for the first
time in six attempts this season.
The two teams combined for four goals in the opening frame with each team taking a lead. Former Bronco Josh Davies scored 33 seconds into his return to Swift Current with a top corner shot for his eighth goal. The Broncos quickly replied with a Josh Filmon goal on the power play and Luke Mistelbacher’s first goal of the season, both on tap-ins from just outside the crease on centering feeds. The Winterhawks tied the game with a Josh Zakreski goal on the
rush for a 2-2 score after one period.
Nicholas Johnson scored the only goal of the second period to give Portland another lead.
The Broncos scored 3:22 into the third period when Brady Birnie notched his fifth goal of the season.
Reid Dyck made 29 saves to improve to 6-20-0. He stopped four of five shootout attempts as well.
Jan Spunar took the loss with 26 saves to fall to 7-2-0-1. Mathew Ward also scored to open the shootout for the Broncos.
“It was awesome,” said Dyck of the win. “It was back and forth. It was a great game with a lot of high-energy plays. When a team like that comes in I think everyone raises their game a little bit. It’s really nice to come out on top of that one.”
Sunday, the Broncos scored three goals in the first period and got 33 saves from Dyck to defeat the visiting Everett Silvertips 4-1.
The Broncos stormed out to a 3-0 lead, beginning with a Clarke Caswell goal on an easy tap in from a Josh Fluker cross-ice feed. The sophomore forward had points in eight straight games after his seventh goal of the season. Fluker doubled the lead minutes later when he found a loose puck and sent it off a skate and in. Rookie Ty Coupland extended the lead when he pounced on a rebound for a power play goal.
Carter Bear replied for the Silvertips with a power play goal in the second period, but Filmon answered with an empty net goal in the final minute.
Ethan Chadwick took the loss with 10 saves on 13 shots in one period of work. Tyler Palmer stopped all 13 shots he faced over the final two periods.
“I think we had a great start tonight,” said Dyck. “The past couple games we weren’t too happy with our starts, but came out flying, got a couple quick ones. It’s always nice to have a lead to
work with.”
The Broncos improved to 6-1-1-0 at home this season.
“It’s been great crowds. We’re feeding off the energy of the crowds. We’ve got a great third period team this year and we’ve learned how to close games. We’ve been a really scary team on home ice this year,” said Dyck.
The Broncos moved into fifth place in the Eastern Conference and sat only three points back of top spot after recovering from a slow start to the season
“I like our work in practice a lot. We’ve had really good weeks of practices and it’s been translating into games. Our third periods have just been great. We’re really locking down games, learning how to close games and it’s really worked for us this year,” said Dyck.
The Broncos will continue a six-game home stand this weekend when they host the Saskatoon Blades on Friday. They will continue to play without regulars such as Connor Hvidston and Caleb Wyrostok.
“Absolutely guys are stepping up. We have [Peyton] Kettles gone and Flukes has played great. Hvidston and Wyro are out and Goulie has really picked it up and had a great year so far. We are getting some secondary scoring, so everybody is chipping in a little more. It’s great to see.”
Dyck has improved his
numbers dramatically this season with a 2.68 goals against average and a .923 save percentage.
“Guys are blocking shots in front of me. We’ve had a good team effort, so it’s a little easier to play in front of. I’m just trying to be a calm presence for the guys back there, make timely saves, just keep us in games and give us a chance to win. I feel like I’ve been doing a decent job of that.”
He said his confidence in his fourth WHL season has also played a major factor.
“18 to 19 is a big jump in this league, it’s an older players’ league. Now that I’ve had a couple years of experience, a lot of learning experiences, I feel that I’ve got a lot more consistent this year. That’s where I struggled last year, so it’s been good this year, a good start.”
The Broncos will also host the Medicine Hat Tigers on Tuesday.
Bronco Bits: Overage forward Caleb Wyrostok sat out both games due to a suspension. Wyrostok was suspended four games for a match penalty and being a repeat offender for an incident on Oct. 28 in Prince Albert. Van Eger was also suspended one game for a goaltender interference major and game misconduct in the same game. The Bronco and Raiders were also fined $500 for a multiple fight situation in the same game.