Game Notes vs Brandon – Nov 24

The Swift Current Broncos couldn’t break their losing streak on the road as they were defeated by the Saskatoon Blades 6-2 last night.  Blades’ Jake Trask would start the scoring off with a goal on Mark Friesen halfway through the first.  Soon after, Brad Hoban would even it up as he snuck one past Steven Stanford.  With the goal, Hoban extended his point streak to nine games.  The first period would conclude with two additional goals by the Saskatoon Blades, making it a 3-1 game.  In the second period, the Broncos would switch goalies allowing Derek Tendler to play his 3rd game as a Swift Current Bronco.  Josh Derko would score his first WHL goal late in the second making it 3-2.  Brandon Bruce and Kyle Verdino would each earn assists.  Unfortunately that would be the final goal a Bronco would score in the contest as the Blades would score three consecutive goals to make the final score 6-2.  Although the Broncos were outshot 40-27 they didn’t allow the Blades any power play goals, killing off all five penalties.  The Broncos were 0/2 on the man advantage. With the loss, the Broncos remain in seventh place in the Eastern Conference.

NUMBERS: Stepan Novotny leads the team with 14 goals…Justin Dowling leads the team with 24 assists and 32 points…Graeme Craig leads the team with 51 penalty minutes…Dowling is 5th in the league in assists with 24, and tied for 2nd in the league in power play assists having 14 and 11th in points with 32…Mark Friesen is 3rd in the league in minutes played (1285), and 2nd in saves (652), he is tied for the 2nd in shutouts (3) and in wins with 11…Friesen is 14th in the league in goals against average (3.04).

DID YOU KNOW:  With a goal last night in Saskatoon, Brad Hoban ups his point streak to 9 games, having scored or assisted in every game since the November 3rd game against the Saskatoon Blades.

AT HOME: The Broncos are 7-7 at home this season.

REGULAR SEASON VS BRANDON:  This will be the third time this season that the Swift Current Broncos meet the Brandon Wheat Kings.  The past two games this season, the Broncos defeated them, each time scoring 4 goals.  The Swift Current Broncos are currently in 3rd place in the East Division, 3 points behind the Moose Jaw Warriors and 11 behind the first place Saskatoon Blades.  The Brandon Wheat Kings are trailing 1 point behind the Broncos in the East Division.  5 year record: 13-20-1-1

10-11 score:

VS EAST DIVISION:  The Broncos are 7-8 against the East Division.

SPECIAL TEAMS: The Broncos power-play is 25 for 123, 20.3% (9th) and the penalty kill is 86.5%, giving up 15 goals on 116 tries (2nd).

ROSTER: The Broncos roster currently consists of 25 players. The team has 3 – 20 year old players, 9 – 19 year old players, 4 – 18 year old players, 8 – 17 year old players and 1 – 16 year old player. Geographically, 12 Broncos are from Alberta, 2 are from Manitoba, 4 are from Saskatchewan, 4 are from BC, 2 are from the Czech Republic and 1 is from Arizona. There are 5 rookies and 20 veterans on the roster.

INJURY REPORT: Forward Dillon Wagner is out week-to-week after off-season knee surgery…Brenden Silvester is out indefinitely with a back injury…Taylor Vause is week-to-week with a strained hamstring…Tanner Muth is week-to-week with a fractured clavicle…Stepan Novotny is week to week with a sprained MCL.

UPCOMING GAMES:  The Broncos will host the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Friday, November 26th.  Then the next day, the Broncos will head to Lethbridge, AB as they play the Hurricanes in the back end of a home and home series.

DRAFTED BRONCOS: Cody Eakin – 3rd Round, 85th Overall (Washington ’09).