Broncos Fall to Tigers in Wild Pre-Season Affair in Medicine Hat
September 16, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Swift Current Broncos News Release
Medicine Hat, Alta. - Co-op Place in Medicine Hat was the scene of 17 total goals on Friday night as the Swift Current Broncos fell to the Medicine Hat Tigers 10-7 in their third pre-season game of the year.
While the score didn't come out the way the Broncos wanted, the team still wants to take away the positives in the pre-season.
"In the pre-season, I look at it as taking the positives out of it," said Assistant Coach Taras McEwen on the post-game show on The Eagle 94.1. "Obviously a high score, but just from our offensive side, we generated a lot, we've done some of the things we talked about, catching them in transition and did a good job in the offensive zone."
After falling behind 2-0 in the first, Mat Ward got the Broncos on the board, but that was followed by another Tiger goal to restore the two-goal separation. Ward would try and will the Broncos to a win in this hockey game as he scored again before the first period ended to bring things to 3-2.
The Broncos made it 3-3, thanks to Luke Mistelbacher, but Medicine Hat would retake the lead shortly after, but a shorthanded Mistelbacher goal made it 4-4 before things got out of hand. Four more unanswered goals from the Tigers made it 8-4 before six minutes had elapsed in the third period.
Ward would score his hat-trick goal about halfway through the third to make it 8-5, but then the teams traded markers after that as Rylan Gould and Parker Rondeau got on the scoresheet for Swift Current in the 10-7 defeat.
Along with Ward's three goals, the Kamloops product had two assists, Clarke Caswell and Luke Mistelbacher each had four points as well.
The teams would play a "overtime" frame as the teams got a chance to see things if it were to go to three-on-three overtime and it was Clarke Caswell scoring for the Broncos. The overtime was followed up by a three-person shootout where the Tigers won 1-0.
The Bronco powerplay went 1/7 in the contest, and only had one other powerplay chance in the pre-season. McEwen said their team just needs to get the reps in games on their powerplay.
"Game reps are completely different than practice reps," he said. "So, I think that's a big part of it, and also personnel. Some guys that are on the powerplay haven't had the experience the last couple years. So, those 17-year-olds turning 18, this is their first real time where their powerplay one and getting those reps.
The Broncos and Tigers wrap up their pre-season schedules on Saturday night when they do battle at the InnovationPlex in Swift Current.
Western Hockey League Stories from September 16, 2023
- Broncos Wrap up Pre-Season with Loss to Tigers at Home - Swift Current Broncos
- Rockets Fall To Royals In Final Pre-Season Contest - Kelowna Rockets
- Warriors Drop Preseason Finale to Wheat Kings - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Perfect Power Play Powers Wheat Kings Past Warriors - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Raiders Win Shootout Thriller to Finish with Flawless Pre-Season Record - Prince Albert Raiders
- Tigers Close Out Pre Season With 10-3 Win Over The Broncos - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Isogai Scores Twice, Adds Assist in 4-2 Wild Win at Tri-City Saturday - Wenatchee Wild
- Streek Scores Twice As Chiefs Wrap Up Preseason With Tough 6-2 Loss To Winterhawks - Spokane Chiefs
- Hawks Conclude Preseason with Fourth Straight Win - Portland Winterhawks
- Game Day Preview: Pre Season Game #4 at Swift Current - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Wild West Showdown at Co-Op Place Leads to Tigers 10-7 Victory Over Broncos - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Oil Kings Dump Cougars in Pre-Season Action - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Pats Make Late Comeback, But Fall 4-3 - Regina Pats
- Warriors Fall to Wheat Kings in Brandon on Friday - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Hawks Win Third Straight Contest - Portland Winterhawks
- Cougars Narrowly Fall to Oil Kings in Exciting Pre-Season Showdown in Grande Cache - Prince George Cougars
- Broncos Fall to Tigers in Wild Pre-Season Affair in Medicine Hat - Swift Current Broncos
- Hitmen Conclude Preseason Play in Red Deer - Calgary Hitmen
- Ritchie's Late Goal Propels Raiders to 4-3 Win Over Pats - Prince Albert Raiders
- Rockets Lose, 7-4, to Giants - Kelowna Rockets
- Giants Top Rockets on the Road 7-4 - Vancouver Giants
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