Big Ern
12-18-2008, 12:46 AM
They came close. But in three years of existence, the Chilliwack Bruins have yet to score a goal versus the Swift Current Broncos. The Broncos and Bruins had their annual clash in Chilliwack tonight and the visitors came out victorious again...this time by a 3-0 score.
Despite losing two veteran defensemen to injury in Eric Doyle and Spencer McAvoy, the Broncos came out and proved they could win at the end of a long and tough road trip. An added X-factor was the fact that this was the last game before Christmas...a time when it's considered a big challenge to keep teams focused before guys head home for Christmas break. The guys came out a tad sluggish in the first, but then really turned up the tempo and came at Chilliwack hard in the second and third.
Derek Claffey was one guy who really competed hard and saw a lot of ice time tonight in the absence of Doyle and McAvoy.
Mark Guggenberger got the goose-egg tonight, with a very stellar performance in goal. (35 saves) He had to be great early as Chilliwack pressured. He also made some highlight saves here and there throughout the game, including a heart-stopper in the final minute.
The "DDT" line was deadly tonight again. Dansereau, Dowling and Tassone, after being challenged following a bad game in Edmonton, have proven to be an extremely valuable asset to this hockey club during the course of this road trip.
Cody Eakin is back, and it's showing. Eaks pitched in again tonight with the first goal of the game.
The Broncos' original goal was to go .500 on the West road trip, which means 4-2 has exceeded expectations.
LET'S GO SWIFTY!!!
FIRST HALF
Of course the following is just my opinion:
I'm very happy with the first half of the season for the Swift Current Broncos. With a record of 21-15-0-1, the team has met expectations so far. They are in "the middle of the pack." Actually, they are more in the "top middle" of the pack, second in the East Division and fourth in the conference. That's a great accomplishment for a team that's had nothing but injury troubles so far this season. (about 70% more injured than most other teams were at any time) There have been a lot of bright spots...the performance of the young guys with the lack of veterans due to injury was exceptional night after night. Coming to mind is Joel Rogers, who with little experience, stepped up and earned a regular shift night in and night out. And that's just a small example. The toughest test so far has been the BC road swing with six consecutive on the road. (not including the game in Med. Hat Dec. 27th) As mentioned previously, the guys rattled off a 4-2 record on that one. So it's been a good 37 games to follow and be there for most of them.
Yes....there were negatives. They would include two sore spots for most of the first half...two veteran players not playing to their potential and being a disappointment. That however, has really gotten better of late. Those two guys have stepped up and are starting to produce and be responsible instead of spinning their wheels. It's becoming a great story.
The second half should bring with it some great excitement. The team is finally healthy and their chances of competing hard in the second chapter of the campaign look real good. Dean Chynoweth has repeatedly mentioned that he likes our group when healthy. I think that will hold true.
How about the trade deadline? Nothing much at all has happened this year in that area. Are the Broncos set to make a splash, and what are they going to decide to do in their short evaluation period after the break? How about the goaltending situation? It really sounds so far like the Broncos are going to part ways with either Guggs or Yonks. The day will be sad, but look for that to happen. Let's sit back and watch until January 10!
Hopefully all our players enjoy a well deserved Christmas break, and also treasure the time with family and friends. It must be a special feeling for some of them to return home for the holiday season, after being away for so long. I know firsthand what it's like to be completely away from family at that young age. Sometimes it takes courage.
May the entire team, the coaching staff and and everyone who supports the club have a Merry Christmas and much success in the New Year.
NOTES:
-obviously they are experiencing some treacherous driving conditions in the lower mainland tonight....which would explain the 30-minute delay in the game and the scarcity of fans at the rink in Chilliwack. Apparently Old Man Winter has decided to camp in BC for a bit.
-that didn't stop the family of Joel Rogers from making the trip to Chilliwack from nearby Abbotsford BC. They were in full force tonight holding up anti-fighting signs and name signs. :) They appeared once on the WHL WEB TV Webcast.
-Randy Merkley sounds like he's having a great time calling Chilliwack Bruins games. Merkley is the former voice of the Moose Jaw Warriors and was with them for their run at the WHL Championship a few years back. He had to quit due to voice difficulties and had to step away for a year or two, before heading out to take the position in Chilliwack. Thanks for calling an awesome game tonight Merks.
-the Legionnaires play their last home game before Christmas tomorrow night at Credit Union i-Plex. They are hosting the Moose Jaw AAA Warriors. It's always entertaining. Be there at 8!
I'm gonna go pass out.
Merry Xmas!
Despite losing two veteran defensemen to injury in Eric Doyle and Spencer McAvoy, the Broncos came out and proved they could win at the end of a long and tough road trip. An added X-factor was the fact that this was the last game before Christmas...a time when it's considered a big challenge to keep teams focused before guys head home for Christmas break. The guys came out a tad sluggish in the first, but then really turned up the tempo and came at Chilliwack hard in the second and third.
Derek Claffey was one guy who really competed hard and saw a lot of ice time tonight in the absence of Doyle and McAvoy.
Mark Guggenberger got the goose-egg tonight, with a very stellar performance in goal. (35 saves) He had to be great early as Chilliwack pressured. He also made some highlight saves here and there throughout the game, including a heart-stopper in the final minute.
The "DDT" line was deadly tonight again. Dansereau, Dowling and Tassone, after being challenged following a bad game in Edmonton, have proven to be an extremely valuable asset to this hockey club during the course of this road trip.
Cody Eakin is back, and it's showing. Eaks pitched in again tonight with the first goal of the game.
The Broncos' original goal was to go .500 on the West road trip, which means 4-2 has exceeded expectations.
LET'S GO SWIFTY!!!
FIRST HALF
Of course the following is just my opinion:
I'm very happy with the first half of the season for the Swift Current Broncos. With a record of 21-15-0-1, the team has met expectations so far. They are in "the middle of the pack." Actually, they are more in the "top middle" of the pack, second in the East Division and fourth in the conference. That's a great accomplishment for a team that's had nothing but injury troubles so far this season. (about 70% more injured than most other teams were at any time) There have been a lot of bright spots...the performance of the young guys with the lack of veterans due to injury was exceptional night after night. Coming to mind is Joel Rogers, who with little experience, stepped up and earned a regular shift night in and night out. And that's just a small example. The toughest test so far has been the BC road swing with six consecutive on the road. (not including the game in Med. Hat Dec. 27th) As mentioned previously, the guys rattled off a 4-2 record on that one. So it's been a good 37 games to follow and be there for most of them.
Yes....there were negatives. They would include two sore spots for most of the first half...two veteran players not playing to their potential and being a disappointment. That however, has really gotten better of late. Those two guys have stepped up and are starting to produce and be responsible instead of spinning their wheels. It's becoming a great story.
The second half should bring with it some great excitement. The team is finally healthy and their chances of competing hard in the second chapter of the campaign look real good. Dean Chynoweth has repeatedly mentioned that he likes our group when healthy. I think that will hold true.
How about the trade deadline? Nothing much at all has happened this year in that area. Are the Broncos set to make a splash, and what are they going to decide to do in their short evaluation period after the break? How about the goaltending situation? It really sounds so far like the Broncos are going to part ways with either Guggs or Yonks. The day will be sad, but look for that to happen. Let's sit back and watch until January 10!
Hopefully all our players enjoy a well deserved Christmas break, and also treasure the time with family and friends. It must be a special feeling for some of them to return home for the holiday season, after being away for so long. I know firsthand what it's like to be completely away from family at that young age. Sometimes it takes courage.
May the entire team, the coaching staff and and everyone who supports the club have a Merry Christmas and much success in the New Year.
NOTES:
-obviously they are experiencing some treacherous driving conditions in the lower mainland tonight....which would explain the 30-minute delay in the game and the scarcity of fans at the rink in Chilliwack. Apparently Old Man Winter has decided to camp in BC for a bit.
-that didn't stop the family of Joel Rogers from making the trip to Chilliwack from nearby Abbotsford BC. They were in full force tonight holding up anti-fighting signs and name signs. :) They appeared once on the WHL WEB TV Webcast.
-Randy Merkley sounds like he's having a great time calling Chilliwack Bruins games. Merkley is the former voice of the Moose Jaw Warriors and was with them for their run at the WHL Championship a few years back. He had to quit due to voice difficulties and had to step away for a year or two, before heading out to take the position in Chilliwack. Thanks for calling an awesome game tonight Merks.
-the Legionnaires play their last home game before Christmas tomorrow night at Credit Union i-Plex. They are hosting the Moose Jaw AAA Warriors. It's always entertaining. Be there at 8!
I'm gonna go pass out.
Merry Xmas!