Broncos Extend Central Division Lead with Win Over Oil Kings
March 18, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Swift Current Broncos News Release
Edmonton, Alta. - The Swift Current Broncos earned a 5-4 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings on Sunday night, capping off a three-game in three-night stretch for the club.
It was a slower start to the game for the Broncos who gave up the first goal of the game just over three minutes in as Gavin Hodnett scored his first of two on the night.
Broncos Assistant Coach Regan Darby said the team took some time to realize the way they needed to play on the final night of a long stretch.
"We kind of understood that we were in a three and three," Darby said. "Fatigue does set in, you make mistakes, we realized we had to simplify our game. We started chip pucks in, we started to get above and sit back a little bit more, play a little bit more of a simple game and I think that paid off for us in the end."
The Broncos turned things on about halfway through the first period as Rylan Gould opened the scoring at even-strength before scoring a shorthanded goal just 1:15 later to give the Broncos the lead. Gould added an assist later on and Darby said
"He had a little bit more energy than probably most," Darby said. "We put him in a situation there with [Conor] Geekie and [Clarke] Caswell, and he answered the bell. He got one early there and, ended up creating some energy that we really needed down the stretch there."
Ty Coupland scored a powerplay goal in the second period to give the Broncos their largest lead of the contest before Hodnett made it 3-2, and Ty Nash tied it on a shorthanded penalty shot goal. Caswell restored the Bronco lead late in the second to make it 4-3 after two.
In the third, Marc Lajoie tied it for Edmonton about six minutes into the frame. After that, the two clubs went back and forth with neither team getting ahead until the 12:31 mark of the second period when Conor Geekie redirected a point shot past Kolby Hay on the powerplay to give the Broncos the lead for good.
The Broncos powerplay was 2-for-4, while the penalty kill was 2-for-3. Joey Rocha stopped 28 of 32 for his first win between the pipes since January 9.
The Broncos now hold a three-point lead on the Medicine Hat Tigers for the Central Division lead. Swift Current hosts Red Deer on Wednesday.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2024
- Fan Appreciation Weekend Primer (3/23 & 3/24) - Everett Silvertips
- Rebels this Week - Red Deer Rebels
- March 18 - Canes Chatter Presented by Peka Rollshutters - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Rockets Fan Appreciation Game To Feature 50/50 Jackpot That Starts At $10,000, Proceeds Help Kelowna Minor Hockey - Kelowna Rockets
- Giants Netminder Mirwald Named Giuseppe WHL Goaltender of the Week for 5th Time - Vancouver Giants
- Warriors Netminder Fortin Named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week - Moose Jaw Warriors
- 2024 NHL Draft-Eligible Forward Parascak Named Tempo WHL Player of the Week - Prince George Cougars
- WHL Announces Weekly Award Winners - WHL
- Connor Ungar Signs Entry-Level Deal with Edmonton Oilers - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Cougars Complete Road Trip Sweep with 6-3 Victory over Giants - Prince George Cougars
- Hawks Earn Point in Battle on the Sound - Portland Winterhawks
- Broncos Extend Central Division Lead with Win Over Oil Kings - Swift Current Broncos
- Prosofsky Scores on Power Play, But Wild Fall Sunday at Spokane, 6-1 - Wenatchee Wild
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
