Broncos survive hectic week amidst coaching change
The Swift Current Broncos had another tumultuous week with four games in five days to go along with the departure of Head Coach Devan Praught.
Tuesday, the Broncos were shutout 4-0 by the host Moose Jaw Warriors.
Jackson Unger made 32 saves for the Warriors, while Brayden Yager had a hat trick.
Joey Rocha made 33 saves for the Broncos.
The Broncos announced on Wednesday that they had mutually parted ways with Praught after two-and-ahalf seasons, adding that Taras Mcewen would fill the role as Interim Head Coach for the remainder of the season.
The Broncos organization had previously announced that Praught was suspended indefinitely for an on-ice incident during practice on Nov. 13. He was then suspended five games by the Western Hockey League. That suspension ended on Nov. 28 in Moose Jaw as the team finished with three wins and two losses under Mcewen.
Wednesday, the Broncos scored the opening three goals in a 5-3 win
over the Eastern Conference leading Medicine Hat Tigers.
The host Broncos got goals from Connor Hvidston, Ryan Mccleary, and Brady Birnie over the opening 12:13 as they held an 11-3 advantage on the shot clock over the span.
Cayden Lindstrom replied with two goals for the Tigers before Tyson Laventure tallied for the Broncos.
Rhett Parsons answered for the Tigers to make it a one-goal game again, but Hvidston sealed the win with an empty net goal in the
final minute.
Matthew Kieper made 28 saves in his Bronco debut after being acquired from the Kamloops Blazers. Ethan Mccallum took the loss with 23 saves.
Friday, the Broncos lost 4-3 in a shootout to the visiting Prince Albert
Raiders. Hvidston, Birnie, and Laventure all scored in the loss.
The Raiders tied the game with 25 seconds remaining on a Sloan Stanick goal.
All three Broncos were stopped in the shootout, while Stanick scored for the Raiders.
Rocha finished with 42 saves on 45 shots in the loss. Swift Current native Chase Coward made 31 saves for the Raiders.
Saturday, the Broncos lost 6-5 in a shootout to the host Regina Pats.
The Broncos led 1-0, 2-1, 4-3, and trailed 2-1 and 5-4 in the back-andforth affair.
The Broncos were unable to score in a second straight shootout, while Tanner Howe scored for the Pats.
Kieper took the loss for the Broncos with 29 saves against his former team. Kelton Pyne earned the win with 29 saves.
Laventure led the Broncos with a goal and two assists. Rylan Gould, Hvidston, and Maddix Mccagherty all registered a goal and an assist. Connor Gabriel also scored.
The Broncos are now 1-2 in shootouts this season with two goals on 11 attempts.
The Broncos finished the weekend with a 1311-1-2 record. They will visit the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Friday and then host the rematch on Saturday. The Broncos lost both games to the Hurricanes in the season series on opening weekend.