Preview: Broncos return home to host Medicine Hat
SWIFT CURRENT, SK – The Swift Current Broncos (6-22-1-2) are hoping the Christmas break will help them reset for the second half of the season as they welcome the Medicine Hat Tigers (22-10-1-0) on Friday, trying to end a nine-game slide.
The Broncos last played on December 14, a 3-1 loss in Red Deer to the Rebels. Trailing 1-0 after the first, Tyler Smithies scored a power-play goal in the early going of the second period to tie the game. Sam McGinley picked up an assist on the goal, his first point as a Bronco.
With the game tied 1-1 heading into the third, the Broncos appeared to be in good position to head into the Christmas break on a high note. Unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be as the Rebels took advantage of a failed clearing attempt to take a 2-1 lead early in the third, before icing the game with a goal with 3:07 left on the clock.
The Tigers enter the second half of the season six points back of the Edmonton Oil Kings for first in the Central Division. While still 12 games over .500, Medicine Hat stumbled into the break, losing their last two games.
A 6-4 loss against the Red Deer Rebels was closer than it looked like it would through 40 minutes as the Tigers were down 5-0 heading into the third. Medicine Hat rattled off four goals in just over 10 minutes to cut the Rebels lead to one, before Red Deer hit the empty net in the final minute to fend off the comeback.
The next night Medicine Hat returned home to host the Oil Kings, and were hammered 7-1. Josh Williams, a former first-round pick of the Tigers, led the way offensively for Edmonton with a goal and four points to send the Tigers into the break with back to back losses.
Friday will be the third meeting of the season between the Broncos and Tigers with the first two having vastly different results.
September 27 the Broncos dropped a close 2-0 game on home ice to the Tigers before Medicine Hat hit double digits the next night in a 10-1 win at the Canalta Centre. Rookie goaltender Jordan Fairlie was on the hook for nine goals through two periods before Isaac Poulter took over for the third.
The Christmas break was much needed for the Broncos as they had a busy stretch leading into it with seven games in 12 days. Things don’t get much easier for the Broncos after the break as they play three games in four nights with a home-and-home against the Lethbridge Hurricanes Saturday and Monday.
Season Series
September 27, 2019 – Broncos 0 vs Tigers 2 Boxscore
November 26, 2019 – Broncos 1 @ Tigers 10 Boxscore
December 27, 2019 – Broncos vs Tigers
January 28, 2020 – Broncos @ Tigers
January 31, 2020 – Broncos vs Tigers
March 3, 2020 – Broncos @ Tigers
March 13, 2020 – Broncos vs Tigers
March 14, 2020 – Broncos @ Tigers
Leading Scorers
| Player | Goals | Assists | Games Played |
| Ethan Regnier | 7 | 9 | 28 |
| Jaxan Kaluski | 6 | 6 | 18 |
| Hendrik De Klerk | 2 | 9 | 29 |
Medicine Hat Tigers
| Player | Goals | Assists | Games Played |
| James Hamblin | 18 | 34 | 33 |
| Brett Kemp | 15 | 25 | 33 |
| Cole Sillinger | 12 | 23 | 28 |
Special Teams
| Team | Power Play | Penalty Kill |
| Swift Current | 10.1 (22nd) | 73.1 (21st) |
| Medicine Hat | 27.3 (1st) | 76.3 (16th) |
