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WHL Swift Current Broncos

Rocha's Stellar Performance Backstops Broncos Over Tigers

January 10, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Swift Current Broncos News Release


Swift Current, Sask. - The Swift Current Broncos (19-15-0-1) won their seventh game in a row on Tuesday, 3-1 over the Medicine Hat Tigers (14-20-5-1), thanks in large part a 37-save performance from Joey Rocha.

Swift Current wasted no time Tuesday night, jumping out to a 1-0 lead just 1:31 into the game. Mathew Ward had the puck deep in the Tigers zone before backhanding it across the crease for Josh Filmon who fired it past an outstretched Beckett Langkow. It was Filmon's 25th goal of the year.

Joey Rocha came up with some key stops in the first period, keeping his team in the lead by denying a number of Tigers shots off the rush.

Swift Current went to their first power play of the game 12:48 into the first and took advantage to add to their lead. After Josh Davies was denied at the top of the crease, Braeden Lewis jumped on the rebound for his third goal of the year to make it 2-0 at 14:09 of the first. Clarke Caswell had secondary assists on both goals.

The Broncos took their 2-0 lead into the intermission despite being outshot 10-9 in the opening 20 minutes.

Much like in the first period, the Broncos went on the attack early in the second and added to their lead. A great forechecking shift in the Tigers zone resulted in Van Eger sending the puck to Rylan Gould at the bottom of the left faceoff circle.

Gould waited for the Tigers defenceman to commit to a block before stepping around him and sliding the puck to Luke Mistelbacher who tapped it into an open net. His fifth goal of the year came just 3:12 into the second period. The goal prompted a goaltending change for Medicine Hat as Evan May took.

Rocha's finest stop of the night came while shorthanded shortly after Mistelbacher's goal. Dallon Melin had a step coming down the left wing and was able to cut across the Broncos crease on his backhand, but Rocha stretched across with his left pad and denied Melin to keep the 3-0 lead intact.

Both teams had a number of good scoring chances throughout the remainder of the period, but neither would find the back of the net as the Broncos carried their 3-0 lead into the second intermission.

The Tigers got on the board while on the power play in the third period. After a turnover at the blue line, the puck ended up at the top of the Broncos crease, creating a goal-mouth scramble. Shane Smith was able to lift the loose puck over Rocha to make it 3-1 5:53 into the third.

The rest of the third period had a number of moments that got the crowd to their feet, including a breakaway for Broncos defenceman Sam McGinley and a thunderous open-ice hit by Josh Davies on Cayden Lindstrom.

Medicine Hat pulled their goaltender late to try and cut into the Bronco lead, but Rocha came up with a few more saves and the Broncos defence blocked a few as well, sealing the 3-1 win.

The Broncos win streak hits seven for the first time since they opened the 2017-18 season by winning their first eight games. Swift Current looks to continue their winning ways when they meet the Lethbridge Hurricanes (21-15-0-2) tomorrow night at the Enmax Centre.

Announced attendance was 1,724.

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