Scout
04-04-2008, 10:53 AM
Broncos prepare for Eastern Conference champion Hitmen
BY STEVEN MAH
The Southwest Booster
The Swift Current Broncos begin their efforts to knock out the Calgary Hitmen this Friday night when they host the opening game in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
The Hitmen finished the regular season 10 points ahead of the Broncos with a 47-20-1-4 record and recently completed a 4-2 series win over the Moose Jaw Warriors.
The Broncos will open the series on home ice on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
No Broncos player is likely looking forward to the series more than former Hitman Keegan Dansereau, who was dealt to the Broncos at the beginning of this season.
"It is quite a bit (of motivation) but it is just like any other series though, you just have to come and play every game. They are a really good team and I think we are too so we are just going to have to use our strengths against them and hopefully it will turn out good."
Having played three full seasons with the Hitmen, Dansereau is looking forward to returning to the Pengrowth Saddledome.
"It's pretty nuts. Hopefully they get 12,000 fans or something like that. It is just a good atmosphere, good ice, and an all around good rink."
Scheduling conflicts have forced the Hitmen out of the Saddledome for games one and two, allowing the Broncos to begin the series at home.
The 19-year-old forward hopes home ice will give the Broncos a lift to begin the series.
"Hopefully yeah, I think we played our best in our rink and our fans have been great so hopefully we can take the two at home."
Broncos captain Zack Smith realizes the Broncos are up against a formidable foe in the Hitmen who scored 15 more goals in the regular season and allowed 39 less than the Broncos.
"They are basically a great team all around. They have really skilled forwards and they have some good D back there too. I think that for this series we just have to mainly worry about ourselves. They are a great team and obviously their record shows that."
After being outperformed by the Pats on special teams in round one, the Broncos will be looking to rebound against Calgary
Through 72 regular season games the Broncos powerplay was slightly more efficient at 18.2 per cent compared to the Hitmen at 18.1 per cent. On the penalty kill Calgary operated at 88.1 per cent, including an 89.4 mark on the road, while the Broncos operated at 82.4 per cent.
Ryan White led the Hitmen in the four regular season head to head meetings with one goal and four assists, followed by Kyle Bortis and T.J. Galiardi with four points each.
Galiardi leads all WHL playoff scorers with two goals and 11 assists in six games.
Just as they did in the regular season the Broncos spread out their scoring with 12 players who registered multiple points against the Pats. Levi Nelson led the Broncos with eight points followed by Dale Weise with seven.
Goaltender Travis Yonkman was 1-1-0-1 with a 2.91 goals against average and .921 save percentage against the Hitmen this season. In six playoff games Yonkman has a 2.70 GAA and a .909 save percentage in four wins and two losses.
Dan Spence has started all six playoff games for the Hitmen with a 2.36 GAA and .896 save percentage. In two starts against the Broncos Spence was 1-0 with a 1.51 GAA and a .948 save percentage.
On Tuesday the two teams will meet at the Pengrowth Saddledome at 7 p.m. in the first of three games in Calgary.
Game six, if necessary would go in Swift Current and game seven would return to Calgary.
BY STEVEN MAH
The Southwest Booster
The Swift Current Broncos begin their efforts to knock out the Calgary Hitmen this Friday night when they host the opening game in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
The Hitmen finished the regular season 10 points ahead of the Broncos with a 47-20-1-4 record and recently completed a 4-2 series win over the Moose Jaw Warriors.
The Broncos will open the series on home ice on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
No Broncos player is likely looking forward to the series more than former Hitman Keegan Dansereau, who was dealt to the Broncos at the beginning of this season.
"It is quite a bit (of motivation) but it is just like any other series though, you just have to come and play every game. They are a really good team and I think we are too so we are just going to have to use our strengths against them and hopefully it will turn out good."
Having played three full seasons with the Hitmen, Dansereau is looking forward to returning to the Pengrowth Saddledome.
"It's pretty nuts. Hopefully they get 12,000 fans or something like that. It is just a good atmosphere, good ice, and an all around good rink."
Scheduling conflicts have forced the Hitmen out of the Saddledome for games one and two, allowing the Broncos to begin the series at home.
The 19-year-old forward hopes home ice will give the Broncos a lift to begin the series.
"Hopefully yeah, I think we played our best in our rink and our fans have been great so hopefully we can take the two at home."
Broncos captain Zack Smith realizes the Broncos are up against a formidable foe in the Hitmen who scored 15 more goals in the regular season and allowed 39 less than the Broncos.
"They are basically a great team all around. They have really skilled forwards and they have some good D back there too. I think that for this series we just have to mainly worry about ourselves. They are a great team and obviously their record shows that."
After being outperformed by the Pats on special teams in round one, the Broncos will be looking to rebound against Calgary
Through 72 regular season games the Broncos powerplay was slightly more efficient at 18.2 per cent compared to the Hitmen at 18.1 per cent. On the penalty kill Calgary operated at 88.1 per cent, including an 89.4 mark on the road, while the Broncos operated at 82.4 per cent.
Ryan White led the Hitmen in the four regular season head to head meetings with one goal and four assists, followed by Kyle Bortis and T.J. Galiardi with four points each.
Galiardi leads all WHL playoff scorers with two goals and 11 assists in six games.
Just as they did in the regular season the Broncos spread out their scoring with 12 players who registered multiple points against the Pats. Levi Nelson led the Broncos with eight points followed by Dale Weise with seven.
Goaltender Travis Yonkman was 1-1-0-1 with a 2.91 goals against average and .921 save percentage against the Hitmen this season. In six playoff games Yonkman has a 2.70 GAA and a .909 save percentage in four wins and two losses.
Dan Spence has started all six playoff games for the Hitmen with a 2.36 GAA and .896 save percentage. In two starts against the Broncos Spence was 1-0 with a 1.51 GAA and a .948 save percentage.
On Tuesday the two teams will meet at the Pengrowth Saddledome at 7 p.m. in the first of three games in Calgary.
Game six, if necessary would go in Swift Current and game seven would return to Calgary.