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Photo by Darwin Knelson for scbroncos.com

Jon Groenheyde stopped 33 shots to lead the Swift Current Broncos (6-7-2-0) to a 3-2 win over Medicine Hat (10-5-0-0) at the Credit Union iPlex on Friday night. It was his finest performance since joining the Broncos from the Edmonton Oil Kings in a deal earlier this season.

"He played great tonight," said Broncos Assistant Coach Andy Schneider. "He was definitely a difference maker."

Taylor Vause put Swift Current ahead only 17 seconds into the third period with a chip shot to the top of the net from a tough angle.



Groenheyde then held the fort with 13 saves the rest of the way as the Tigers pressed for a tie.

"They played hard (and) we played just as hard," Groenheyde said. "That's a huge game for us... gain a lot of confidence for ourselves and respect around the league."

Despite giving up a shorthanded goal to dangerous Tigers sniper Emerson Etem, the Broncos earned two points by winning the special teams battle. Their vaunted power play continued to click by scoring twice on six opportunities. However, it was a rare perfect night for the penalty kill that ensured victory. Swift Current came into action on Friday with statistically the league's worst shorthanded unit and held Medicine Hat off the scoreboard on five power plays.

"That's huge for us," Groenheyde said. "We didn't have a lot of confidence in ourselves penalty killing."

Schneider felt their play between the pipes was a factor in that success.

"A lot of penalty killing is good goaltending," Schneider said. "I have to give a lot of credit to (Groenheyde)."

Rookie Trevor Cox opened the scoring for Medicine Hat. The picture perfect tip was the first career goal for the great grandson of the legendary Fred "Cyclone" Taylor.

Swift Current responded with a late power play goal from Reece Scarlett to head into the first intermission tied. The man advantage went to work again early in the second period as Cody Gordon notched his 10th of the season off a nice feed by Adam Lowry. The line of Gordon, Lowry and Vause scored a combined 8 points on the night and were in on every Bronco goal. Gordon leads all WHL rookies with 20 points in 15 games.

"I didn't expect this," Gordon said. "(Coach Mark Lamb) gave me the opportunity and it's just been going well for me."

"He has hockey sense like no other," said Schneider, who was famous in the WHL in part for his ability to think the game offensively. "He knows where to go... as a player you love to play with a guy like Coda."

Etem's league leading 18th of the season tied the game before Vause put the Broncos back ahead early in the third.

The game took a decidedly physical tone. Swift Current threw seveal big hits in the first period including at least three solid checks on Tigers defenceman James Bettauer. The physical play included one of the most spirited fights of this young WHL season. Swift Current's own Andy Blanke battled Medicine Hat Captain Cole Grbavac for a ferocious 1:10 in the second period.



Broncos forward Shea Howorko also scrapped with Tigers import Adam Rehak. Howorko was later in the middle of a post-game scrum that started as both teams were coming onto the ice at the final buzzer.

Medicine Hat hosts the second half of the home and home on Saturday night. You can hear it live on The Eagle 94.1 FM starting with our pre-game show at 7pm.

Ryan Switzer interviews F Coda Gordon and G Jon Groenheyde:


Shawn Muliln interviews Assistant Coach Andy Schneider:


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