Broncos @ Ice

[Big Ern]

What a complete game tonight in Kootenay! WOW! The ride home should be awesome, as the guys pulled out every possible stop in Cranbrook to get the victory. GREAT JOB!
Geordie Wudrick had an assist, and was noticed quickly in his first game back. And Levi is backing my comments up that I fired back at the online community who were ripping him on the web a few weeks ago. He is on a definite roll, and is just flying out there. Good job, BUDDY! Keep it up! Kudos to all the guys, including Moissy, who as Jon said, was a clutch performer when he needed to be tonight. Also, of course the coaching staff did an awesome job. We all know how Dean likely loves to beat Kootenay, a team run completely by his father and brother. We saw him celebrate when the Broncos beat them in OT here earlier in the season. I'm sure tonight was no different. Swift Current has not won in Kootenay in a dog's age. The big man, Dean Chynoweth has turned it around! HAHAHA! Good goin' Deano, and Dave as well.
I might sound a bit out of control here everyone, but I am SOOOOO fired up about this win! It was HUGE!! And the Broncos gave them NOTHING in the second and third periods...so again, celebrate big Bronco fans! WE WON IN KOOTENAY!! WOOOO HOOOO! G'night everyone, and come to Regina to join "Rockin' Rob Myers" and myself on Wednesday. The boys will get the job done. LET'S GO SWIFTY!!!

[Toswammi]

Wow. Caught the game on a split screen w. HNIC on the other side (jeez its hard to watch two games at once). But SC definately out played the home side. We played a solid game in our own end and were responsible for the most part. Also took advantage of the Ice mistakes and scored a few big goals, and most importantly hit them every chance we get. The Ice PBP guy said it best when he said the Broncos were showing Kootaney no respect. When we play that tenacious hockey we get good results on the scoreboard. Look forward to seeing more of this when a few of us go to Regina to catch the game there on Wed.

[Scout]

Broncos upset Ice to remain third in East Division
The Swift Current Broncos scored three unanswered in goals to erase a 2-1 first period deficit


The Southwest Booster

The Swift Current Broncos earned a valuable two road points in their drive to the playoffs with a 4-2 win over Kootenay on Saturday night. In front of 3,053 fans at the Cranbrook Rec. Complex the Broncos scored three unanswered goals to erase a 2-1 first period deficit. The Broncos got goals from Kyle Bortis, Levi Nelson, Michael Wilson, and Zack Smith in the win. Involved in a heated race for the final three playoff spots in the WHL`s East Division, the Broncos have now won three of their past four games after wins over Prince Albert and Saskatoon before dropping a 3-0 decision to Medicine Hat on Friday night.

The Ice got first period powerplay goals from Michael Busto and Ryan Russell sandwiched around an even strength goal from Broncos 18-year old forward Kyle Bortis.

The Broncos dominated the shot clock in the middle frame, aided in part by four consecutive Ice penalties, outshooting the Ice 17-4 in the period.
Levi Nelson tied the game 2-2 with his 18th goal of the season on the powerplay 8:22 into the period.

19-year-old defenseman Michael Wilson scored the eventual game winning goal on the powerplay with 2:21 remaining in the period, his ninth goal of the campaign.

In the final frame Zack Smith added an insurance marker just 35 seconds in to close the scoring, his 14th goal of the season.

Overage Broncos goaltender Kyle Moir stopped 22 of 24 Ice shots to improve his season record to 18-26-0-1.

Ice netminder Kris Lazuruk turned away 27 of 31 shots in his sixth loss of the season to drop his record to 14-6-1-1.

Special teams were a wash as both teams scored two powerplay goals in seven opportunities.

The game marked the fourth and final time the two teams will meet this season, Swift Current losing twice, winning once in a shootout, and winning in regulation Saturday night in Cranbrook

The win improves the Broncos record to 29-34-1-2. The Broncos pulled to within eight points of second place Regina in the WHL East Division who dropped a 2-1 decision to the Saskatoon Blades. The Broncos three point lead over fourth place Prince Albert remains intact after the Raiders downed Lethbridge 4-3.

The regulation loss drops Kootenay`s season record to 44-17-3-3, ten points back of the Central Division leading Medicine Hat Tigers.

Next action for the suddenly hot Broncos, who have only six games remaining this season, will be Wednesday in Regina versus the second place Pats. Friday night the Broncos will host the Medicine Hat Tigers in their sixth and final meeting of the season. Saturday the Broncos will wrap up their season series with the East Division leading Brandon Wheat Kings.

The Broncos will conclude the season with a visit to Prince Albert and a home-and-away series with the Moose Jaw Warriors on Mar. 16th & 17th.

[Scout]

Keen's Korner

Sunday, March 04, 2007
November 14th, 2001



Can anyone guess what that date represents? Well if you listened to the broadcast last night you would know it's the last time the Broncos have won in Cranbrook. You can now update to March 3, 2007.




In one of the best Bronco efforts of the season, the boys handed the Kootenay Ice only their 6th regulation loss on home ice this season. The Ice are now 25-6-1-1 playing out of the Cranbrook Rec Plex.


Leading up to the game at the hotel, I didn't really get an overly confident vibe from the team. With that said though they had just skated with the #2 team in the nation the night before in Medicine Hat despite losing 3-0.


Just before face-off, the team welcomed back Geordie Wudrick from the Canada Winter Games. Geordie and team BC lost the bronze medal game 4-3 to Phil Gervais and Team Alberta. I asked Geordie what happened and he said "Gervo's line (Phil Gervais) shut down my line in the game." Gervais is expected to re-join the Broncos Monday.


The Ice scored on their first real chance of the game 4:30 in. Mike Busto came off the point and beat Moir five-hole from the right face-off dot. It was a powerplay goal. Busto's goal was his 20th of the season. It also set the new Ice franchise record for most goals career by an Ice defenseman. I've heard someone say that Busto's shot couldn't break a pane of glass. Somehow he's finding the mark.


But just 46 seconds later, the Broncos tied it on a good effort from Dale Wiese. "Time to break out tonight, I can feel it." That's the words of Dale Wiese about an hour before face-off. Wiese charged in hard behind the Ice goal and stripped goaltender Kris Lazaruk off the puck. He centered it out to Kyle Bortis who had a tap in from there. Game tied 1-1.


The Ice would get their lead back on a Ryan Russell powerplay goal. His first shot was blocked but came right back to him as he quickly fired again to beat a screened Kyle Moir. After one the shots were even 9-9, the score was 2-1 Ice.


All Broncos in the 2nd period folks, one of their best periods of the season. First Levi Nelson tapped home a great feed from Wudrick off the rush on the powerplay. Nelson went hard to the goal and Wudrick lazered a pass right on the tape. Nelson's goal was also his 50th point of the season. 2-2.


Later, after back-to-back-to-back Ice penalties, the Broncos had an extended 5-3 powerplay (about 2:30). After some initial difficulties, Mike Wilson would wrist a hard one by Lazaruk from the top of the circle giving the Broncos a 3-2 lead.


The Ice faithful were fired up at referee Ryan Thompson after that string of penalties against the home team. Those who remember the "Jeff Glass" incident at the Civic Center a couple seasons ago with the Ice would also remember Thompson as the referee that night.


The shots were 17-5 favoring the Broncos in the 2nd period. Kyle Moir had the period off. I can't remember one difficult save in the 2nd period.


Zack Smith would add an insurance marker only 35 seconds into the 3rd after a nice set-up from Daniel Rakos. Smith scored five-hole on Lazaruk giving the Broncos a 4-2 lead. The next 17 minutes featured the Broncos in shutdown mode. It was only with 2:22 left when the Ice pulled the goaltender making it 6-5 did they sustain any pressure. Moir was called upon a few times to make some saves. His best was on Swift Current native Andrew Bailey in close.


The Broncos held on from there, 4-2 winners. A huge win in Cranbrook.


Good job by Kyle Moir who gets the win in his CHL record-tying 229th appearance in the Broncos goal. He's now tied with Jeff Calvert and has a chance to break the record Wednesday night if he gets the start in Regina. I have a feeling Yonks will go against the Pats so Moir can break the mark on home-ice Friday night against the Tigers.


It's funny how things work. Even though the Broncos played the top two teams in the Eastern Conference on the road, they still gained ground in the east division and are much closer to clinching a playoff spot. Here's how the standings look after Saturday night.


Broncos - 61 pts - 6 games remaining
Raiders - 58 pts - 7 games remaining
Blades - 52 pts - 8 games remaining
Warriors 51 pts - 7 games remaining


The trip home was quick as the team unloaded the bus at about 5:30am to wrap up the weekend.
More on Monday.

posted by Jon Keen at 1:27 PM | 0 comments