Broncos win once on Alberta road trip

The Swift Current Broncos skated into the holiday break with one win during a three-game Alberta road trip last week.

Thursday, special teams were the difference when the host Red Deer Rebels defeated the Broncos 3-2. The Rebels scored twice on the power play, while the Broncos finished zero-for-four on the man-advantage.

Kai Uchacz gave the Rebels the lead with a power play goal 4:38 into the second period. Rylan Gould answered minutes later with his ninth goal of the season.

The Rebels took a second lead in the third period with a Zane Saab goal. Brady Birnie tied the game for the Broncos. The Rebels clinched the win with a power play goal from Hunter Mayo with 3:27 remaining in regulation.

Joey Rocha made 29 saves for the Broncos. Rhett Stoesser made 31 saves to improve to 8-70-1.

Friday, the Broncos doubled up the host Edmonton Oil Kings 6-3, led by a two-goal outing from Josh Filmon.

The Broncos built up a 3-1 lead in the first period on goals from Tyson Laventure, Birnie, and Maddix Mccagherty, while Marshall Finnie replied for the home team.

Filmon added to the lead early in the second period and defenseman Zach Turner quickly chipped in with his first WHL goal from well inside his defensive zone. Marc Lajoie and Ty Nash replied late in the period to keep the Oil Kings within striking distance.

Filmon ended any comeback hopes with a power play marker in the third period.

Rocha made 27 saves to improve to 6-9-1-1.

Beckett Langkow made nine saves on 14 shots for Edmonton. Kolby Hay made 18 saves on 19 shots in relief.

Sunday, the Broncos allowed three goals over 1:30 in the first period on their way to a 7-4 loss to the host Calgary Hitmen.

Mccagherty, Laventure, Connor Hvidston, and Turner all scored, while Clarke Caswell assisted on all four goals.

Rocha was pulled after allowing three goals on five shots over 5:07. Matthew Kieper made 31 saves over the final 53:46.

Ethan Buenaventura made 32 saves for the Hitmen. Keets Fawcett, Wyatt Pisarczyk, Maxim Muranov, Carson Wetsch, David Adaszynski, Sean Tschigerl, and Oliver Tulk scored for the home team.

The Broncos entered the holiday break in seventh spot in the Eastern Conference with a 1614-1-2 record, only three points back of third-place Moose Jaw.

The Broncos will return to action on Dec. 27 when they visit the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Their next home game will be Dec. 30 against the Red Deer Rebels.

Bronco Bits: 2023 second round pick Sawyer Dingman made his WHL debut on Friday in Edmonton. The 6’3’’ forward had one goal, 12 assists, and 42 penalty minutes in 21 games with the Northern Alberta Xtreme U18 Prep team this season.