Swift Current Broncos

Western Hockey League team in Swift Current, Saskatchewan

This article is about the current Western Hockey League team. For the defunct Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League team, see Swift Current Broncos (SJHL).

Swift Current Broncos

City| Swift Current, Saskatchewan
League| Western Hockey League
Conference| Eastern
Division| Central
Founded| 1967 (1967)
Home arena| Innovation Credit Union iPlex
Colours| Blue, green, white, black

General manager| Chad Leslie[1]
Head coach| Taras McEwen (interim)[2]
Website| www.scbroncos.com
Franchise history
1967–1974| Swift Current Broncos
1974–1986| Lethbridge Broncos
1986–present| Swift Current Broncos
Championships
Regular season titles| 2 (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.

## History[edit]

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[edit]

Main article: Swift Current Broncos 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[edit]

### First Broncos (1967–74)[edit]

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

Season | GP  |  W  |  L  |  T  | GF  | GA  | Points | Finish | Playoffs

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1967–68 | 60 | 16 | 38 | 6 | 242 | 343 | 38 | 9th Overall | Out of playoffs
1968–69 | 60 | 14 | 44 | 2 | 186 | 329 | 30 | 4th West | Lost quarter-final
1969–70 | 60 | 27 | 31 | 2 | 240 | 265 | 56 | 3rd West | Lost quarter-final
1970–71 | 66 | 24 | 40 | 2 | 229 | 290 | 50 | 4th West | Lost quarter-final
1971–72 | 68 | 25 | 42 | 1 | 242 | 311 | 51 | 5th East | Out of playoffs
1972–73 | 68 | 27 | 35 | 6 | 300 | 359 | 60 | 5th East | Out of playoffs
1973–74 | 68 | 35 | 24 | 9 | 240 | 306 | 79 | 3rd East | Lost semi-final

### Second Broncos (1986–present)[edit]

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

Season | GP  |  W  |  L  |  T  | OTL | GF  | GA  | Points | Finish | Playoffs

|
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1986–87 | 72 | 28 | 40 | 4 | – | 331 | 393 | 60 | 6th East | Lost East quarter-final
1987–88 | 72 | 44 | 26 | 2 | – | 388 | 312 | 90 | 4th East | Lost East semi-final
1988–89 | 72 | 55 | 16 | 1 | – | 447 | 319 | 111 | 1st East | Won championship and Memorial Cup
1989–90 | 72 | 29 | 39 | 4 | – | 323 | 351 | 62 | 6th East | Lost in first round
1990–91 | 72 | 40 | 29 | 3 | – | 369 | 351 | 83 | 3rd East | Lost in first round
1991–92 | 72 | 35 | 33 | 4 | – | 296 | 313 | 74 | 5th East | Lost East semi-final
1992–93 | 72 | 49 | 21 | 2 | – | 384 | 267 | 100 | 1st East | Won championship
Lost Memorial Cup tie-breaker
1993–94 | 72 | 35 | 33 | 4 | – | 284 | 258 | 74 | 4th East | Lost East semi-final
1994–95 | 72 | 31 | 34 | 7 | – | 274 | 284 | 69 | 6th East | Lost in first round
1995–96 | 72 | 36 | 31 | 5 | – | 285 | 271 | 77 | 1st Central | Lost in first round
1996–97 | 72 | 44 | 23 | 5 | – | 336 | 243 | 93 | 2nd East | Lost Eastern Conference semi-final
1997–98 | 72 | 44 | 19 | 9 | – | 276 | 220 | 97 | 2nd East | Lost Eastern Conference semi-final
1998–99 | 72 | 34 | 32 | 6 | – | 232 | 211 | 74 | 4th East | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final
1999–2000 | 72 | 47 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 257 | 170 | 101 | 1st East | Lost Eastern Conference semi-final
2000–01 | 72 | 43 | 20 | 7 | 2 | 275 | 215 | 95 | 1st East | Lost Eastern Conference final
2001–02 | 72 | 42 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 274 | 218 | 97 | 2nd Central | Lost Eastern Conference semi-final
2002–03 | 72 | 38 | 24 | 7 | 3 | 240 | 215 | 86 | 2nd Central | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final
2003–04 | 72 | 36 | 29 | 7 | 0 | 234 | 209 | 79 | 4th Central | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final
2004–05 | 72 | 22 | 41 | 6 | 3 | 135 | 218 | 53 | 5th Central | Out of playoffs
Season | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts | Finish | Playoffs
2005–06 | 72 | 24 | 34 | 6 | 8 | 175 | 242 | 62 | 4th Central | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final
2006–07 | 72 | 33 | 36 | 1 | 2 | 199 | 241 | 69 | 3rd East | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final
2007–08 | 72 | 41 | 24 | 1 | 6 | 244 | 205 | 89 | 3rd East | Lost Eastern Conference semi-final
2008–09 | 72 | 42 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 258 | 220 | 86 | 3rd East | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final
2009–10 | 72 | 37 | 30 | 1 | 4 | 231 | 232 | 79 | 3rd East | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final
2010–11 | 72 | 26 | 44 | 0 | 2 | 181 | 260 | 54 | 6th East | Out of playoffs
2011–12 | 72 | 27 | 37 | 2 | 6 | 216 | 272 | 62 | 5th East | Out of playoffs
2012–13 | 72 | 36 | 29 | 3 | 4 | 206 | 193 | 79 | 3rd East | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final
2013–14 | 72 | 38 | 25 | 3 | 6 | 248 | 229 | 85 | 2nd East | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final
2014–15 | 72 | 34 | 33 | 1 | 4 | 221 | 245 | 73 | 3rd East | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final
2015–16 | 72 | 24 | 38 | 7 | 3 | 189 | 249 | 58 | 5th East | Out of playoffs
2016–17 | 72 | 39 | 23 | 4 | 6 | 247 | 239 | 88 | 3rd East | Lost Eastern Conference semi-final
2017–18 | 72 | 48 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 284 | 213 | 103 | 2nd East | Won championship
2018–19 | 68 | 11 | 51 | 4 | 2 | 135 | 301 | 28 | 6th East | Out of playoffs
2019–20 | 63 | 10 | 48 | 2 | 3 | 129 | 298 | 25 | 6th Central | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21 | 24 | 6 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 72 | 108 | 14 | 7th East | No playoffs were held
2021–22 | 68 | 26 | 35 | 5 | 2 | 181 | 246 | 59 | 4th Central | Out of playoffs
2022–23 | 68 | 31 | 33 | 1 | 3 | 227 | 242 | 66 | 5th Central | Out of playoffs

## WHL Championship history[edit]

* 1988–89: Win, 4–0 vs Portland
* 1992–93: Win, 4–3 vs Portland
* 2017–18: Win, 4–2 vs Everett

## Current roster[edit]

Updated January 11, 2024.[5]

# | Nat | Player  | Pos | S/G | Age  | Acquired  | Birthplace  | Drafted

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

16 |  | Brady Birnie | C | L  | 18  | 2020 | Regina, Saskatchewan | Undrafted
38 |  | Grayson Burzynski | D | L  | 18  | 2020 | Winnipeg, Manitoba | Undrafted
25 |  | Clarke Caswell | LW | L  | 17  | 2021 | Brandon, Manitoba | Eligible 2024
15 |  | Ty Coupland | RW | R  | 16  | 2022 | North Vancouver, British Columbia | Eligible 2025
20 |  | Jakub Dvorak | D | L  | 18  | 2022 | Liberec, Czech Republic | 2023, 54th Overall, LAK
30 |  | Reid Dyck | G | L  | 19  | 2019 | Winkler, Manitoba | 2022, 183rd Overall, BOS
29 |  | Van Eger | RW | R  | 18  | 2020 | Willow Bunch, Saskatchewan | Undrafted
24 |  | Josh Filmon (A) | C | L  | 19  | 2019 | Winnipeg, Manitoba | 2022, 166th Overall, NJD
14 |  | Connor Gabriel | C | L  | 18  | 2020 | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | Undrafted
|  | Tyson Galloway | D | L  | 20  | 2024 | Kamloops, British Columbia | 2021, 145th Overall, STL
96 |  | Conor Geekie | C | L  | 19  | 2024 | Strathclair, Manitoba | 2022, 11th Overall, ARI
18 |  | Dawson Gerwing | LW | L  | 17  | 2021 | Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan | Eligible 2024
12 |  | Rylan Gould | C | L  | 18  | 2020 | Headingley, Manitoba | Undrafted
21 |  | Connor Hvidston | RW | R  | 19  | 2019 | Tisdale, Saskatchewan | 2022, 139th Overall, ANA
4 |  | Peyton Kettles | D | R  | 16  | 2022 | Winnipeg, Manitoba | Eligible 2025
30 |  | Matthew Kieper | G | L  | 19  | 2023 | Winnipeg, Manitoba | Undrafted
6 |  | Ryan McCleary | D | R  | 20  | 2023 | Swift Current, Saskatchewan | 2021, 192nd Overall, PIT
13 |  | Luke Mistelbacher | LW | R  | 18  | 2021 | Steinbach, Manitoba | Eligible 2024
34 |  | Petr Pavelec | LW | L  | 18  | 2023 | Ostrava, Czech Republic | Undrafted
27 |  | Owen Pickering (C) | D | L  | 19  | 2019 | St. Adolphe, Manitoba | 2022, 21st Overall, PIT
35 |  | Joey Rocha | G | L  | 18  | 2020 | Nanaimo, British Columbia | Undrafted
2 |  | Zach Turner | D | L  | 20  | 2023 | Boissevain, Manitoba | Undrafted
10 |  | Mathew Ward (A) | RW | R  | 19  | 2019 | Kamloops, British Columbia | Undrafted
19 |  | Caleb Wyrostok (A) | RW | R  | 20  | 2018 | Medicine Hat, Alberta | Undrafted

## Team records[edit]

Team records for a single season

Statistic | Total | Season
Most points | 111 | 1988–89
Most wins | 55 | 1988–89
Most goals for | 447 | 1988–89
Fewest goals for | 135 | 2004–05
Fewest goals against | 170 | 1999–2000
Most goals against | 393 | 1986–87
Individual player records for a single season

Statistic | Player | Total | Season
Most goals | Jason Krywulak | 81 | 1992–93
Most assists | Terry Ruskowski | 93 | 1973–74
Most points | Jason Krywulak | 162 | 1992–93
Most points, rookie | Joe Sakic | 133 | 1986–87
Most points, defenceman | Dan Lambert | 102 | 1988–89
Best GAA (goalie) | Bryce Wandler | 2.06 | 1999–2000
Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played

## NHL alumni[edit]

* Blair Atcheynum
* Warren Babe
* Ryan Bast
* Ken Baumgartner
* Rollie Boutin
* Willie Brossart
* Colby Cave
* Jakub Cutta
* Kimbi Daniels
* Jake DeBrusk
* Ron Delorme
* Ed Dyck
* Gary Emmons
* Kris Foucault
* Dallas Gaume
* Glenn Gawdin
* Larry Giroux
* Josh Green
* Dillon Heatherington
* Aleksi Heponiemi
* Ian Herbers
* Chris Herperger
* Shane Hnidy
* Milan Hnilicka
* Joel Hofer
* Bill Hogaboam
* Earl Ingarfield Jr.
* Jason Jaffray
* Trent Kaese
* Sheldon Kennedy
* Ladislav Kohn
* Don Kozak
* Maxime Lajoie
* Dan Lambert
* Lane Lambert
* Brad Larsen
* Jim Leavins
* Brett Lernout
* Adam Lowry
* Beck Malenstyn
* Dean Malkoc
* Dean McAmmond
* Trent McCleary
* Ryan McGill
* Todd McLellan
* Jim McTaggart
* Craig Millar
* John Negrin
* Lawrence Nycholat
* Jaroslav Obsut
* Bill Oleschuk
* Ben Ondrus
* Colton Orr
* Ed Patterson
* Lane Pederson
* Paul Postma
* Kelly Pratt
* Pokey Reddick
* Jeremy Reich
* Michal Rozsival
* Terry Ruskowski
* Joe Sakic
* Geoff Sanderson
* Andy Schneider
* Dave Schultz
* Cam Severson
* Trevor Sim
* Nathan Smith
* Zack Smith
* Brent Sopel
* Stuart Skinner
* Rocky Thompson
* Ryan Tobler
* Bryan Trottier
* Layne Ulmer
* Sergei Varlamov
* Dale Weise
* Ian White
* Bob Wilkie
* Jeremy Williams
* Tiger Williams
* Dody Wood
* Tyler Wright
* Joe Zanussi

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

* 8 Trent Kresse
* 9 Scott Krueger
* 11 Brent Ruff
* 22 Chris Mantyka

## Coaches[edit]

Swift Current Broncos original logo.

* Graham James 1986–87 to 1993–94
* Todd McLellan 1994–95 to 1999–2000
* Brad McEwen 2000–01 to 2002–03
* Randy Smith 2003–04
* Dean Chynoweth 2004–05 to 2008–09
* Mark Lamb 2009–10 to 2015–16
* Emanuel Viveiros 2016–17 to 2017–18
* Dean Brockman 2018–19 to 2021
* Devan Praught 2021 to 2023
* Taras McEwen 2023-present

## See also[edit]

* List of ice hockey teams in Saskatchewan
* Swift Current Broncos (SJHL)

## References[edit]

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 (2006-12-30). "E-Ticket: Denial of Death". ESPN.
5. ^ WHL Network, Western Hockey League, retrieved 2024-01-11

## External links[edit]

* Swift Current Broncos official website

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