Swift Current Broncos

Last updated

Swift Current Broncos
Swift Current Broncos.svg
City Swift Current, Saskatchewan
League Western Hockey League
ConferenceEastern
DivisionCentral
Founded1967 (1967)
Home arena Innovation Credit Union iPlex
ColoursBlue, green, white, black
    
General managerChad Leslie [1]
Head coachTaras McEwen (interim) [2]
Website www.scbroncos.com
Franchise history
1967–1974Swift Current Broncos
1974–1986 Lethbridge Broncos
1986–presentSwift Current Broncos
Championships
Regular season titles2 (1988–89, 1992–93)
Playoff championships Ed Chynoweth Cup
3 (1989, 1993, 2018)
Conference Championships
1 (2017–18)
Memorial Cup
1 (1989)

The Swift Current Broncos are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League. Founded during 1967 in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, the Broncos played seven seasons before relocating to Lethbridge from 1974 to 1986 as the Lethbridge Broncos. The Broncos then returned to Swift Current, and have played there since 1986, at the Innovation Credit Union iPlex.

Contents

History

The Broncos started out as the Swift Current Broncos in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, but moved to Lethbridge in 1974. The team had been losing money in tiny Swift Current and the new Lethbridge Sportsplex was looking for a team. The Broncos played in Lethbridge for twelve seasons, winning the President's Cup in 1982–83. In the mid-1980s, the team came up for sale, and despite a large and loyal fan base in Lethbridge, the Broncos were bought by local interests in Swift Current and moved back to their original home. [3] After a year without WHL hockey in Lethbridge, the Calgary Wranglers moved to the city and became the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

The Broncos won its only Memorial Cup championship two years later at the 1989 Memorial Cup. In the 1993 Memorial Cup, the Broncos were eliminated in a tie-breaker. Afterwards, head coach Graham James resigned to coach the Calgary Hitmen, but three seasons later, allegations arose that he sexually abused former player Sheldon Kennedy during their days together with the Broncos. James was convicted of sexual offenses and sentenced to three years in prison.

The Broncos play in the second smallest market in the Canadian Hockey League. The only market smaller than Swift Current is Bathurst, New Brunswick, home of the QMJHL's Acadie-Bathurst Titan.

1986 team bus crash

On December 30, 1986, the Broncos' bus crashed on the way to a game in Regina. Four players were killed: Trent Kresse, Scott Kruger, Chris Mantyka and Brent Ruff (younger brother of Lindy Ruff). [4] The team still wears a commemorative patch in remembrance of the four players. The rest of the team, led by future NHL star Joe Sakic, who recorded 60 goals, played out the season despite the loss. In a move to memorialize the fallen players, the WHL now awards the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy to the League's Player of the Year.

Season-by-season record

First Broncos (1967–74)

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

SeasonGP W L T GF GA PointsFinishPlayoffs
1967–68 6016386242343389th OverallOut of playoffs
1968–69 6014442186329304th WestLost quarter-final
1969–70 6027312240265563rd WestLost quarter-final
1970–71 6624402229290504th WestLost quarter-final
1971–72 6825421242311515th EastOut of playoffs
1972–73 6827356300359605th EastOut of playoffs
1973–74 6835249240306793rd EastLost semi-final

Second Broncos (1986–present)

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

SeasonGP W L T OTLGF GA PointsFinishPlayoffs
1986–87 7228404331393606th EastLost East quarter-final
1987–88 7244262388312904th EastLost East semi-final
1988–89 72551614473191111st EastWon championship and Memorial Cup
1989–90 7229394323351626th EastLost in first round
1990–91 7240293369351833rd EastLost in first round
1991–92 7235334296313745th EastLost East semi-final
1992–93 72492123842671001st EastWon championship
Lost Memorial Cup tie-breaker
1993–94 7235334284258744th EastLost East semi-final
1994–95 7231347274284696th EastLost in first round
1995–96 7236315285271771st CentralLost in first round
1996–97 7244235336243932nd EastLost Eastern Conference semi-final
1997–98 7244199276220972nd EastLost Eastern Conference semi-final
1998–99 7234326232211744th EastLost Eastern Conference quarter-final
1999–2000 724718432571701011st EastLost Eastern Conference semi-final
2000–01 72432072275215951st EastLost Eastern Conference final
2001–02 72421767274218972nd CentralLost Eastern Conference semi-final
2002–03 72382473240215862nd CentralLost Eastern Conference quarter-final
2003–04 72362970234209794th CentralLost Eastern Conference quarter-final
2004–05 72224163135218535th CentralOut of playoffs
SeasonGPWLOTLSOLGFGAPtsFinishPlayoffs
2005–06 72243468175242624th CentralLost Eastern Conference quarter-final
2006–07 72333612199241693rd EastLost Eastern Conference quarter-final
2007–08 72412416244205893rd EastLost Eastern Conference semi-final
2008–09 72422811258220863rd EastLost Eastern Conference quarter-final
2009–10 72373014231232793rd EastLost Eastern Conference quarter-final
2010–11 72264402181260546th EastOut of playoffs
2011–12 72273726216272625th EastOut of playoffs
2012–13 72362934206193793rd EastLost Eastern Conference quarter-final
2013–14 72382536248229852nd EastLost Eastern Conference quarter-final
2014–15 72343314221245733rd EastLost Eastern Conference quarter-final
2015–16 72243873189249585th EastOut of playoffs
2016–17 72392346247239883rd EastLost Eastern Conference semi-final
2017–18 724817522842131032nd EastWon championship
2018–19 68115142135301286th EastOut of playoffs
2019–20 63104823129298256th CentralCancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21 246162072108147th EastNo playoffs were held
2021–22 68263552181246594th CentralOut of playoffs
2022–23 68313313227242665th CentralOut of playoffs
2023–24 68402242286239861st CentralTBD

WHL Championship history

Current roster

Updated February 26, 2024. [5]

# Nat Player Pos S/G AgeAcquiredBirthplaceDrafted
16 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Brady Birnie C L18 2020 Regina, Saskatchewan Undrafted
38 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Grayson Burzynski D L18 2020 Winnipeg, Manitoba Undrafted
25 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Clarke Caswell LW L18 2021 Brandon, Manitoba Eligible 2024
15 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ty Coupland RW R16 2022 North Vancouver, British Columbia Eligible 2025
20 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Jakub Dvorak D L18 2022 Liberec, Czech Republic 2023, 54th Overall, LAK
30 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Reid Dyck G L20 2019 Winkler, Manitoba 2022, 183rd Overall, BOS
24 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Josh Filmon  ( A ) C L19 2019 Winnipeg, Manitoba 2022, 166th Overall, NJD
14 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Connor Gabriel C L18 2020 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Undrafted
7 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Tyson Galloway D L21 2024 Kamloops, British Columbia 2021, 145th Overall, STL
96 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Conor Geekie C L19 2024 Strathclair, Manitoba 2022, 11th Overall, ARI
18 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Dawson Gerwing LW L17 2021 Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan Eligible 2024
12 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Rylan Gould C L18 2020 Headingley, Manitoba Undrafted
21 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Connor Hvidston RW R19 2019 Tisdale, Saskatchewan 2022, 139th Overall, ANA
4 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Peyton Kettles D R16 2022 Winnipeg, Manitoba Eligible 2025
6 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ryan McCleary D R20 2023 Swift Current, Saskatchewan 2021, 192nd Overall, PIT
13 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Luke Mistelbacher LW R18 2021 Steinbach, Manitoba Eligible 2024
34 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Petr Pavelec LW L19 2023 Ostrava, Czech Republic Undrafted
27 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Owen Pickering  ( C ) D L20 2019 St. Adolphe, Manitoba 2022, 21st Overall, PIT
35 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Joey Rocha G L19 2020 Nanaimo, British Columbia Undrafted
2 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Zach Turner D L20 2023 Boissevain, Manitoba Undrafted
10 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Mathew Ward  ( A ) RW R20 2019 Kamloops, British Columbia Undrafted
19 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Caleb Wyrostok  ( A ) RW R20 2018 Medicine Hat, Alberta Undrafted

Team records

Team records for a single season
StatisticTotalSeason
Most points111 1988–89
Most wins551988–89
Most goals for4471988–89
Fewest goals for135 2004–05
Fewest goals against170 1999–2000
Most goals against393 1986–87
Individual player records for a single season
StatisticPlayerTotalSeason
Most goals Jason Krywulak 81 1992–93
Most assists Terry Ruskowski 93 1973–74
Most points Jason Krywulak 1621992–93
Most points, rookie Joe Sakic 1331986–87
Most points, defenceman Dan Lambert 1021988–89
Best GAA (goalie) Bryce Wandler 2.061999–2000
Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played

NHL alumni

Retired numbers: The Swift Current Broncos have retired the jersey numbers of the four players who died in the aforementioned 1986 team bus accident.

Coaches

Swift Current Broncos original logo. Oldscbroncos.png
Swift Current Broncos original logo.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Hockey League</span> Sports league

The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitutes the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada, alongside the Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. Teams play for the Ed Chynoweth Cup, with the winner moving on to play for the Memorial Cup, Canada's national junior championship. WHL teams have won the Memorial Cup 19 times. Many players have been drafted from WHL teams, and have found success at various levels of professional hockey, including the National Hockey League (NHL).

Trent Kenneth McCleary is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played for the Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins, and Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). His career was ended in 2000 after he took a slapshot to the throat, an injury that required life-saving surgery moments after the incident. He played 192 games, scoring 8 goals and 23 points.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saskatoon Blades</span> Western Hockey League team in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

The Saskatoon Blades are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Founded in 1964, the Blades were a charter team of the then-Western Canada Hockey League, and are the only club that has played every season in the league in its original location. Today, the team plays in the East Division of the Western Hockey League's Eastern Conference, and hosts games at the SaskTel Centre. Despite five appearances in the championship series, the Blades have never won a league title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calgary Hitmen</span> Western Hockey League team in Calgary, Alberta

The Calgary Hitmen are a major junior ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Hitmen play in the Central Division of the Western Hockey League (WHL). They play their home games at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Bret "Hitman" Hart, a local-born professional wrestler, was a founding owner as well as the inspiration for the team's name. Established in 1994, the team has been owned by the Calgary Flames hockey club since 1997. They are the third WHL team to represent Calgary, preceded by the Centennials and Wranglers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kamloops Blazers</span> Western Hockey League team in Kamloops, British Columbia

The Kamloops Blazers are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League (WHL). The team plays in the B.C. Division of the Western Conference, is based in Kamloops, British Columbia, and play home games at Sandman Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lethbridge Hurricanes</span> Western Hockey League team in Lethbridge, Alberta

The Lethbridge Hurricanes are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team, currently members of the Eastern Conference of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The team is based in Lethbridge, Alberta, and play their home games at the ENMAX Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince Albert Raiders</span> Western Hockey League team in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

The Prince Albert Raiders are a major junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League. The Raiders play in the East Division of the Eastern Conference. They are based in the city of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada. The team plays its home games at the Art Hauser Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lethbridge Broncos</span> Ice hockey team

The Lethbridge Broncos were a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League from 1974 until 1986. They played at the Lethbridge Sportsplex.

The Four Broncos Memorial Trophy is awarded each year to the Western Hockey League's Player of the Year.

The 1996–97 WHL season was the 31st season for the Western Hockey League. Eighteen teams completed a 72-game season. The Lethbridge Hurricanes won the President's Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed Chynoweth Cup</span> Western Hockey League trophy

The Ed Chynoweth Cup is an ice hockey club championship trophy awarded to the playoff champion of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Originally called the President's Cup when the league was founded in 1966, the trophy was renamed in 2007 to honour Ed Chynoweth's long service to junior hockey in Canada. The WHL champion earns a berth into the Memorial Cup tournament, Canada's junior hockey championship. The Kamloops Blazers have won the most WHL championships with six, followed by the Medicine Hat Tigers with five. The Spokane Chiefs were the first team to win the renamed trophy in the 2007–08 WHL season. The current (2022–23) holders of the Ed Chynoweth Cup are the Seattle Thunderbirds.

The 1988–89 WHL season was the 23rd season for the Western Hockey League. Fourteen teams completed a 72-game season. The Swift Current Broncos won the President's Cup before going on to win the Memorial Cup.

The 1986–87 WHL season was the 21st season for the Western Hockey League. Fourteen teams completed a 72-game season. The Medicine Hat Tigers won the President's Cup before going on to also capture the Memorial Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1993 Memorial Cup</span> Canadian junior mens ice hockey championship

The 1993 Memorial Cup took place 15–23 May 1993, at the Sault Memorial Gardens in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. It was the 75th annual Memorial Cup competition and determined the major junior ice hockey champion of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1989 Memorial Cup</span> Canadian junior mens ice hockey championship

The 1989 Memorial Cup occurred May 6–13 at the brand new Saskatchewan Place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It was the 71st annual Memorial Cup competition and determined the major junior ice hockey champion of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). Participating teams were the Western Hockey League champion Swift Current Broncos, the WHL hosts, the Saskatoon Blades, as well as the winners of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League which were the Laval Titan and Peterborough Petes. In the first ever all-WHL final, an overflow, bi-partisan crowd of more than 11,000 saw Swift Current beat Saskatoon in overtime to win their first Memorial Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd McLellan</span> Canadian ice hockey player and coach

Todd Andrew McLellan is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. He was most recently the head coach of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL) from 2019 to 2024. He previously served as head coach of the San Jose Sharks (2008–2015) and Edmonton Oilers (2015–2018), and as an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings (2005–2008), with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2008. He was drafted in 1986 by the New York Islanders, and played five games with the major league club in the 1987–88 season before retiring in the minors the following season due to recurring injury.

Mark William Lamb is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, and current general manager and head coach of the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Lamb was previously the head coach of the Tucson Roadrunners of the American Hockey League (AHL) and the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL. Lamb was born in Ponteix, Saskatchewan but grew up in Swift Current, Saskatchewan.

The 2009–10 WHL season is the 44th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The regular season began on September 17, 2009, and ended on March 14, 2010. The 2009 Subway Super Series, featuring Team WHL versus Team Russia, took place from November 25–26, 2009.

The Swift Current Broncos bus crash occurred in December 1986, killing four members of the Swift Current Broncos ice hockey team.

Roderick Neil "Scotty" Munro was a Canadian ice hockey coach. Munro was a key part of the group that formed the Western Hockey League (WHL) in 1972, which includes Bill Hunter, Ben Hatskin, and Ed Chynoweth.

References

  1. "Swift Current Broncos head coach and GM Dean Brockman steps down". CTV.ca. October 16, 2021.
  2. "McEwen named Broncos Interim Head Coach". chl.ca. November 29, 2021.
  3. Culp, Leesa; Drinnan, Gregg; Wilkie, Bob (2012). Sudden Death: The Incredible Saga of the 1986 Swift Current Broncos. Toronto: Dundurn. p. 35. ISBN   978-1459705449.
  4. Joyce, Gare (December 30, 2006). "E-Ticket: Denial of Death". ESPN.
  5. WHL Network, Western Hockey League, retrieved January 11, 2024