Broncos Begin B.C. Road Swing with a 5-1 Win over Rockets
Life on the road. The Swift Current Broncos began their season long five-game road trip against the Kelowna Rockets on Saturday night at Prospera Place as part of their B.C. Division swing.
The Broncos got off to a slow start, being outshot 8-1 midway through the first period but picked up the pace in the latter half of the frame. Broncos forward Arthur Miller and Rockets captain Rodney Southam got in a spirited scrap that resulted in five minute majors for both players. The game was scoreless heading into the middle frame.
Aleksi Heponiemi opened the scoring just 13 seconds into the second period to give the Broncos a 1-0 lead. Bronco forward Glenn Gawdin got hold of a turnover at the back of the Kelowna net and found an open Heponiemi out in front who snapped it home.
The Broncos later struck on the power play as Colby Sissons one-timed a laser by the blocker side of Rockets goaltender Michael Herringer to make it 2-0 Swift Current. The power play was working for the Broncos as great puck movement on another man advantage resulted in an easy back door goal for forward Tyler Steenbergen and the Broncos suddenly owned a 3-0 cushion on Kelowna.
Tomas Soustal would put the Rockets on the board at the 18:57 mark of the period to cut the deficit to 3-1. Swift Current held a 20-18 advantage in shots on goal through 40 minutes of play.
In the third, the Broncos power play continued to go to work with Gawdin’s sixth goal of the campaign to extend the Broncos lead to 4-1. Heponiemi completed a pass to Gawdin who was wide open at the right faceoff dot and he buried the wrist shot for the Broncos’ third power play goal of the game.
The Rockets produced 26 shots on goal but Bronco netminder Taz Burman stood to the challenge by finishing the game with 25 saves.
Steenbergen added an empty netter with the Rocket net empty in the final minute of regulation and the Broncos defeated the Kelowna Rockets 5-1.
Swift Current outshot Kelowna 30-26 while going 3/4 on the power play. Kelowna went 0/3 on their power play chances.
The Broncos continue their B.C. road swing with a date against the B.C. Division leading Prince George Cougars on Tuesday, October 18th with puck drop set for 8:00pm.
