WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Broncos Repay 6-Goal Favor as Wheat Kings Fall at Home

Published on October 5, 2023 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


On Saturday, when the Swift Current Broncos met the Brandon Wheat Kings, the Wheat Kings lit the Broncos up for six goals in a 6-3 victory. On Wednesday night, however, the rematch saw the shoe on the other foot.

Five different Broncos scored and the Wheat Kings managed just 24 shots on goal to the Broncos 39 as the Wheat Kings dropped a 6-2 contest. Ethan Eskit stopped 33 of 39 shots he faced, while Roger McQueen and Brett Hyland scored the goals.

"We were up 2-1 after one and in the second they really took it to us," said Wheat Kings head coach and GM Marty Murray. "It was kind of like that for the rest of the game."

McQueen started the scoring for the Wheat Kings, bunting home the rebound of a shot off the end wall to put them up 1-0. Brady Birnie answered for the Broncos, sneaking in for a breakaway and snapping a shot over Eskit's glove.

Late in the period, the Wheat Kings got a goal that could've really changed the momentum. On the power play with less than a minute to go, Brett Hyland powered a one-timer past Joey Rocha from the top of the right circle and game the Wheat Kings a lead. Little did they know, however, that would be the sum of their offense on the night and the Broncos were just getting started.

After Birnie tied it with his second of the game, a snapshot off the rush high-glove, Matthew Ward found himself alone in front and scored his third goal of the two-game series. Then the penalty troubles began for the Wheat Kings. They held them off through the second period, but early in the third the Broncos, who had tired the Wheat Kings penalty killers out, finally found cracks in the armor and stretched their lead first to 4-2 and then to 5-2 on goals by Rylan Gould and Connor Hvidston.

"When you're lazy and you're chasing the puck around all night, you're going to be in the penalty box and that was the case with us tonight," Murray said. "It's a ticking time bomb when you have too many kills."

After a sixth goal by Grayson Burzynski, who swooped in on the rebound of a shot by Josh Filmon, the Broncos clamped down defensively, barely allowing the Wheat Kings any pressure and securing the win.

The Wheat Kings will have to reset in a hurry. They host the Calgary Hitmen on Saturday, October 7. That will be Pucks N Paws night at Westoba Place.

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 5, 2023


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