Geekie makes immediate impact with Broncos
The massive addition of Conor Geekie paid immediate dividends last week as the Swift Current Broncos won both games upon his arrival.
The former Wenatchee Wild and Winnipeg Ice star scored in the first period of a 6-2 win over the visiting Tri-city Americans on Jan. 12.
“Obviously I wasn’t expecting too much out of my game,” he said after his debut. “I kind of expected some heavy legs and it was a smaller ice surface. The guys kind of took over I think. There was a couple times where they had a pretty good pushback, but we had big Joe [Joey Rocha] in the net and he’s playing unreal tonight. I think the way we played, happy, but definitely not satisfied with my game.”
His debut was the first time he had seen the Broncos in person since Feb. 20, 2023.
“I think we’re a really fast team. I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people. It’s a great town. I love it already. The guys are great too. I’m excited to be here and I’m excited to kind of see where it takes off. I think teams are going to take us for granted and they probably shouldn’t,” he said after the win.
Geekie was acquired by the Broncos in exchange for three players and four draft picks as the Wild looked to recoup assets after going all in last season.
“I knew a trade was happening. I did love Wenatchee. I had unbelievable billets. I had unbelievable people there. When you’re playing with guys for so long you kind of get really attached. I knew a deal was going down and I knew it was closer to home and I knew quite a few guys on this team. They made it pretty easy for me to come in and
I’m just really happy to be here.”
Geekie is a product of Strathclair, MB and said he is most familiar with current Broncos Owen Pickering and Josh Filmon. The three of them played together on the Winnipeg Junior Jets at the Brick Invitational way back in 2013-14. “We all played together right, anyone from Manitoba and even Saskatchewan, summer hockey, we kind of all played together. It was a lot of fun. They were really excited, probably even more excited than me if that’s even possible,” he laughed.
He also played under Broncos head coach Taras Mcewen last season in Winnipeg when the Ice went all the way to the league championship series.
“Oh yeah for sure. That was one of the convincing factors for me that was going to make it a lot of fun. Terry does a great job, I got to work with him last year and coming into this year I’m really excited to see where me and him take off to.”
The 6’4’’ centre opened the season with 20 goals, 29 assists, 28 penalty minutes, and a plus-21 rating in 26 games with the Wild.
“Obviously physicality, I’m a bigger body. The goal scoring and the playmaking ability, playing with a lot of pace, I think my skating has come a long, long way. Just bringing that and just being able to be trusted in every situation. I’m trying to play as many minutes as I can and help out the team in any way.”
Geekie is also the veteran of 34 playoff games during a pair of lengthy runs with the Winnipeg
Ice the past two seasons.
“With what Winnipeg did in the three years we were there, we were a super team. You go through a lot of ups and down with teams like that and understanding the fact that every guy has to accept a role. I think I can try and bring that to the table and... you need all 23 guys to win a championship and I’m definitely looking to bring that here in Swift.”
Geekie was all business during his Broncos debut, but it was apparent that he was having a lot of fun in the process.
“Yeah that’s for sure accurate. Tonight was nowhere near where I want my game to be, but again I expected that coming in. I expect a lot more out of myself and I hope people expect a lot more out of me because I wasn’t too happy with it. I’m happy we got the win, happy we got the two points, but again I do like to have a lot of fun,” he said.
The Arizona Coyotes prospect made good on his promise on Friday with four points during a 7-3 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings in his home province.