Getting Bucked By The Broncos

• It’s amazing what good old fashioned hard work will do. The Swift Current Broncos clearly outworked the Rockets in a 4-0 home ice win Friday night. The Broncos won battles for pucks, blocked shots and killed off 11 power play chances in the win. The Broncos got better as the game went on, the Rockets couldn’t find second gear.
• Was the result predictable? You had to think a stinker was in the cards for the Rockets sooner rather than later. The Broncos were very good, but the Rockets clearly were not sharp, and likely acquired some bad habits in lopsided wins over Prince George and Portland.
• The Rockets number one line of Long, Benn and Leavold struggled but can’t be entirely blamed for the loss. While they are the key in the teams overall success, the second or third lines followed the lead of the top unit. Conversely two players that now have 11 goals combined scored two the Broncos four goals.
• Broncos forward Cody Eakin was a good example of doing whatever it takes to win. Eakin had a goal and an assist and was named the games first star, but it was Eakin’s play without a stick in the neutral zone and his ability to shuffle the puck in his skates before kicking it inside the Rockets zone that really impressed me. Extra effort goes a long way!
• The Rockets missed a handful of chances early in the game, which may have turned the complexion of the game in their favor. Less than 3 minutes into the first period, Brady Leavold feeds Jamie Benn with a beautiful pass just inside the Broncos blueline allowing Benn to go one-on-one with goaltender Mark Gruggenberger. Benn attempted to snap it high blocker side, only to see his shot go high and wide. It was a sign of things to come.
• The Rockets were 0/6 on the power play in the first period alone, including a 5 on 3 which generated few scoring chances. On top of getting off to a rough start with the power play in the first period, the Rockets also allowed a shorthanded goal.
• Mark Guggenberger was the surprise started in goal for the Broncos. Guggenberger was solid in his Bronco debut, recording his first career shutout against the highest scoring team in the WHL. Guggenberger wasn’t overly tested, but when called upon made some good saves.
• Goaltender Torrie Jung must be battered and bruised after this one. Jung was hit in the mask in a 3rd period blast from Broncos d-man Jesse Dudas and then got labeled in the shoulder from an Eric Doyle point shot on the same sequence.
• The Broncos are a team that has underachieved this season. With 25 wins this season, the Broncos proved last night that if they work as hard as they did Friday night against the Rockets, they have as good a chance as any team to win the Conference.
• I had a chance to chat with Broncos GM/Coach Dean Chynoweth and Assistant GM Eldon Moberg before the game. I’ve mentioned before on this blog my thoughts on Chynoweth. I find him extremely personable and a pleasure to chat with, let alone interview. He is slowly moving up my list as my favorite coach out East. I first got to know Chynoweth when he was as head coach of the Seattle Thunderbirds. Moberg is a long time friend and colleague.
• The Broncos enjoyed the largest crowd of the season as over 24 hundred fans packed the Credit Union I-Plex. The crowd also enjoyed a pre-game ceremonial face-off as four members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders were in attendance - Grey Cup in tow – for a autograph session before the game.
• Former Rockets head coach Marc Habscheid was in attendance at last night’s game. I didn’t see him myself, but his brother told me he took in the game.
• Former NHL/Broncos star Tyler Wright was at last night’s game. Wright was a member of the Broncos team that won a WHL title in 1993. Wright has been scouting with the Columbus Blue Jackets.