Broncos hoping to climb Eastern Conference standings
The Swift Current Broncos entered the holiday break in seventh spot in the Western Hockey League’s Eastern Conference. An optimist might note that the Broncos were only three points back of the Moose Jaw Warriors for third, while a pessimist may point out that the team was only five points ahead of the 10th place Regina Pats.
“Obviously we’d like to be higher in the standings than where we are,” said Interim Head Coach Taras Mcewen. “I think for the most part we’re happy with the way we’re playing. I think when our group has been healthy, we got [Connor] Hvidston back, obviously we’ve still got a couple guys injured this year and that’s probably been the most frustrating part is just our injuries and timing of injuries with our best players, but I’ve really liked how some of our young players have stepped up and played important roles and played well in those roles, so that’s been a real positive. When you get those guys back from injury we have the confidence in some of our young guys that they can play in different situations, which has been good.”
The Broncos were 103-1-1 at home, but only 6-11-0-1 on the road.
“We’ve played a lot better at home than we have on the road, so it’s just trying to find a little more consistency in our game. But when we are playing well, I think we have played well, every game that we’ve played the past couple weeks have been close games that can go back or fourth.”
Mcewen also said special teams need to improve after the holidays.
“It has been an issue in those tight games. That’s usually how you win or lose those close games is your power play or PK. I have confidence that we have the group that can respond in those areas and looking forward to the second half.”
The Broncos penalty killing unit was 19th in the WHL at 74.3 percent.
“The special teams has been the one thing that the last couple weeks we need to improve here coming back from the break. Our kill has been really good at moments during the season. Sometimes you get in those funks and play more passive than we want to. When we’re playing with confidence and playing with a lot of pace I think we do a really good job on our penalty kill and it’s in a good spot.”
The Broncos power play was 11th in the WHL at 20.6 percent.
“Our power play, to start the year it was right around that 20 percent. In the second half it’s got to be an area that has to be good and has to be consistent against these teams is the biggest thing.”
After 33 games, the Broncos were just starting to get an idea of where they fit in the Eastern Conference this season.
“When we are healthy, when we’re playing the right way, I think we are one of the top teams. I believe in this group and believe that we have the team that can make a deep run. I think with the veterans that we have on the back end and the way some of our young players have played and stepped up that we have four good lines, three lines that can score and four lines that can play against any other line on the other team. We have a back end that is big and strong and can move pucks really well. Our goaltending has been really good. When Dycker [Reid Dyck] was in it was really good and Joey has stepped in the last couple weeks with Dycker’s injury. We are very confident with our group when we’re playing the right way and when we get some guys back, with that being said with the way our younger guys are playing, that we can compete with any team on any night we can beat any team.”
The Broncos have had to overcome adversity
this season after Head Coach Devan Praught was suspended by the club for an on-ice incident in practice on Nov. 13. The WHL eventually suspended him for five games and then Praught and the hockey club ‘mutually parted ways’ at the conclusion of the suspension. Mcewen and
Praught had previously worked together at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame prior to Mcewen joining the Broncos in the summer.
“It definitely wasn’t an easy process to go through,” admitted Mcewen. “Obviously Devan is someone that I’m very close with and he’s a very good coach and the reason that I wanted to come to Swift with the group that we had and to work alongside Devan with our past relationship. It’s been a difficult process. He’s obviously a really good coach and I know that wherever he ends up next year they’ll be lucky to have him because he does a really good job.”
The Broncos had a 9-91-0 record under Praught and have since compiled a 7-5-0-2 record under Mcewen.
“I think they’ve done a good job of responding right after it,” said Mcewen of his players. “It’s a tough situation for them and some of the guys, but they’ve come to the rink and want to get better and have focused on the right things, so that’s been a positive thing. I’ve liked the way we’ve played and responded to everything that happened. It’s not easy changing a coach in the middle of the season, but our players have been good and responded the right way.”
Mcewen is in his first season with the Broncos but is no stranger to the community or the hockey club. He was in Swift Current for grades three to seven while his dad, Brad Mcewen, coached the Broncos from 1998-2003.
“Those were prime years in my youth that I remember Swift. I still have a lot of people that I went to school in Swift that still live in town, so it’s been fun to reconnect with some of those people and see a lot of familiar people in the city.”
His dad coached players such as Jeremy Rondeau, Lawrence Nycholat, Layne Ulmer, Ian White, and Jeremy Williams.
“I remember as a young kid being the stick boy running around this rink, so it’s been a very special experience to be a part of and come back here and take over something that my dad did. I’m very honoured and humbled to get this opportunity. I don’t take this lightly at all.”
The Broncos will visit the Medicine Hat Tigers on Friday and then host the Red Deer Rebels on Saturday as they look to climb the Eastern Conference standings.