20 - PRAIRIE POST - Friday, March 20, 2009
Sports: Broncos Playoffs
Clock ticking for Broncos’ over-agers
BY ELIZABETH HUBER to play for. threats such as the Tigers’ Tyler Ennis are coming at you
SWIFT CURRENT Each of the three players’ final year in the Western Hockey with the puck, is to go into the game with the same routine.
The clock is ticking for Swift Current Broncos over-agers.
League has presented its challenges, growths and questions Playoff rounds are where emotions run high and memories
With a potential four games left to go they have everything
about the future. None of the over-agers have a map charted are created and upsetting league rivals, the Regina Pats, in
out for them and playoffs are their last chance to be noticed. last year’s playoffs left a sweet taste with all the returning
The teams leading scorer Keegan Dansereau, 5’11” 201 lbs. players. Since the Pats finished the season in a disappointing
right-winger’s, fifth year in the WHL is coming to a close. 10th place the boys want the taste of new blood.
Dansereau joined the Broncos’ early in the 2007/2008 The team’s third over-ager Spencer McAvoy will fill a
season from the Calgary Hitmen after a rocky start there, but different role in this year’s playoff round compared to last
seemed to find his fit under the direction of Head Coach year’s.
40242906•03/20/09
Dean Chynoweth. “With the younger team, Dean (Chynoweth) has given me
He’s finding pace with teammates such as Justin Dowling, more of an opportunity on the power play ... I think that
Matt Tassone — who is out for the season due to shoulder comes with confidence,” said the 6’3” 187 lbs. defenceman.
surgery — and now Michael Stickland. Offensively, McAvoy more than quadrupled his points
“I have been just trying to keep up with them I guess ... compared to last year and cleared the 40-point mark.
when I am not getting points, they are,” said Dansereau. He too is hoping the playoff run will be enough to grab a
He started playing hockey when he was three and a half pro-teams’ attention, but he is trying to stay in the moment
years old, has been playing ever since and wants to keep and not think too much about his future options.
playing. “If worst comes to worst I have school, and that is not bad
“If not, I will go to school and keep playing there.” at all,” conceded McAvoy.
As the nail-biting run to the playoffs took off, the Broncos’ “I have five years paid for, I might as well use it. I guess the
seemed to pick up stride and find more of a fit. They even big concern is where to go.”
40242905•03/20/09
defeated the Brandon Wheat Kings in their last match. McAvoy played his first WHL game during the 2004/2005
What was the difference for the team? They are starting to season with the Medicine Hat Tigers and was called up four
believe in themselves. games the following year as well, before spending the last
“I think the guys realize that I want to go far and everyone four seasons under the direction of Chynoweth.
wants to go far and I think that helped a lot too,” added
GOOD LUCK TO THE
Dansereau.
Win or lose, the goaltender can be the team’s hero or the
Fan bus heads to the Hat
SWIFT CURRENT BRONCOS
guy the fans want to shove into the garbage can.
SWIFT CURRENT
At trade deadline, it became a contentious issue when
The Swift Current Broncos announced that the
IN THE PLAYOFFS!
Chynoweth traded 19-year-old Mark Guggenberger from the
Pizza Hut Fan Bus will be heading to Medicine Hat for
team. Good news for 20-year-old Travis Yonkman was that
playoff games 3 and 4.
he would reclaim his position as starting goaltender to close
The games are Tuesday March 24th and Wednesday
out his four-year WHL career with the Swift Current
March 25th. The bus will depart Swift Current at the
John Cave
Broncos.
Credit Union i-plex on both days at 4 p.m. and return
“I had the chance to start as a 19-year-old, which I did, and
around 11:30 p.m. The cost is $50 for each game and
122 - 12 Cheadle Street W.
held my own last year,” said Yonkman. Now he is trying to
includes a personal pizza from Pizza Hut, a ticket to
prove himself again this year. Yonkman’s save percentage
the game and transportation.
Swift Current, SK S9H 0A9
has been hovering around 0.900.
This is the best way to ensure tickets to games in
Phone:(306) 773-7379
“Playoffs are the time of the season where you can’t take a
Medicine Hat as the Tigers have a limited amount of
Fax: (306) 741-9894
night off,” said Yonkman.
seats available. The bus will fill up quickly so book
“You can make the one big save that wins the game or let
your seat on the Broncos’ fan bus by phoning 773-
Email:
farmsask@sasktel.net
in the weak goal that loses the game,” he added. The best
1509 or visit The Stable Souvenir Store.
way to keep psychologically fit, especially when offensive
40242819•03/20/09
First 250 fans will get
a limited edition
playoff cowbell
PLAYOFF BBQ
$
Play NHL 2K9 on
50" Panasonic Plasma
5
-Beef on a bun & salad
- A coke product
Wii on a projector
screen.
HD TV Giveaway during
5:00-7:00
Everyone that
(Rink doors open at 6:00)
the game
attends the BBQ will
be eligible to win
'Blue Hair' table for everyone
the Wii system and
to show their Broncos pride
the NHL 2K9 game
Supported by:
GAME 2
DTD Oilfield Services, Paterson Grain, Sure-Fit Denture
Clinic, RB Trucking, Johnnie's Lunchbox, and Extreme Pita
Saturday
, March 21st 7:30PM
Ultimate i-fan
Sponsored by: All fans coming to the game dressed
up or displaying signs showing their
Broncos pride will be eligible to be named the Ultimate i-fan
Prizes for Ultimate i-fan finalists include:
$500 cash, an I-Pod Touch and much more
Playoff Tickets Available at the Stable Souvenir Store - 773-1509
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