Broncos set to face Hurricanes in opening round of WHL playoffs
The Swift Current Broncos will return to the Western Hockey League playoffs this weekend against the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
The Broncos had a phenomenal run to chase down the Medicine Hat Tigers to claim the Central Division banner.
“I think it’s just not being satisfied with anything. It’s a long season and you’re only as good as you’re next game right, so I think just not being satisfied with the wins and kind of building them, we find that if we play our game not many teams can play with us. It’s just sticking to our identity and I think it’s been working,” said forward Rylan Gould.
“I think we gelled together as a team very well,” added captain Owen Pickering. “I think for our group it was about sticking to our process. We had some bumps on the road in the first half, some learning experiences, some adversity, but that’s the hallmark of any really good team. But for us to come together like we have, we’re ready to take on anybody. That’s not meant to be cocky, it’s just meant that we know what we’re capable of and we think we can beat anybody in this league.”
Gould felt the team was ready for a long playoff run.
“100 percent. I think we
have a group that’s hungry and I think that we have a group that’s ready to lift the cup. We’re super excited for it,” said Gould.
The Broncos finished with eight players who scored 19 or more goals, led by 43 goals from Conor Geekie.
“I think up and down our line-up the depth is huge, especially at forward. Every line can score... We have a lot of
scoring up and down our line-up,” noted Pickering, who finished with 44 points in 59 games on the blue line.
“Back on defense, I think our focus is just killing plays. We have a very big D-core and that’s helped us keep our gaps tight and a few guys have helped pitch in offensively as well,” Pickering added. “That coupled with a clicking power play right
now makes for a winning recipe.”
The Broncos host games one and two of the best-of-seven series on Friday and Saturday. Games three and four will be Tuesday and Wednesday in Lethbridge. Game five, if necessary would be Friday back in Swift Current.
The Hurricanes finished seventh in the Eastern Conference with
a 33-28-7-0 record.
“Lethbridge is a team that tries to wear you down. You can’t really cycle pucks on them. They play well in their D-zone. If we just play our game I think we’ll be just fine,” said Gould.
“I think they play a little more of a defensive style of hockey. But again we have our depth, we’re going to roll, we play the same way no matter who we play. We’re excited to see the iplex going and get some buzz in the town,” added Pickering.
The Broncos lost the eight-game season series by one point, but won both games after the trade deadline by a combined 10-1 margin. Goaltender Reid Dyck won both of his games against Lethbridge with a .980 save percentage and a 0.50 goals against average.
Brayden Edwards led the Hurricanes with 31 goals this season, while Miguel Marques led the team with 74 points.
The series will also feature two of the WHL’S premier goaltenders. Harrison Meneghin was second in the WHL with a .919 save percentage, while Dyck was fifth at .911.
Pickering and the Broncos are looking forward to playing in front of a sold out Innovationplex this post-season.
“We talk about it every single day. We’re really excited about it. We had a get-together the other day and we were watching videos of the 2018 series and just watching those games back. We’re super excited. It’s going to be pretty special obviously for the guys that have been here for a while. There’s been some heartbreak over the past few years. To look forward to Friday coming out to a sold out iplex as a division winner is pretty special.”