Brycen Martin scored 1:05 into overtime to lift the Swift Current Broncos to 3-2 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings on Wednesday night.
“Four on four hockey I think was made for a guy like (Martin),” said Broncos Assistant Coach Jamie Heward. “He's such a good skater, sees the ice very well... I know he's only 16 but we're treating him as an 18 or 19-year-old now with the minutes he's playing and the responsibility we've giving him. I don't think he's the type of kid that gets all that nervous... it's not a stretch to throw him out in overtime.”
It was the first overtime winner of the 16-year-old defenceman's career. Colby Cave set the goal up and Eetu Laurikainen got his first point when his save started the play.
The win moved the Broncos to 6-0-0-1 against Brandon this season.
Highlights from Wednesday's game from the New Pioneer Co-op Home Centre Broncos broadcast on the Eagle 94.1“You never want to be too critical about a win,” Heward said. “At this time of year we'll talk what we can get. I think we have to be aware of what little of effort we got from some guys and where we need to go from here.”
The Broncos got off to a solid start in the first period as Richard Nedomlel ripped a quick shot over the glove of Corbin Boes off an Adam Lowry face-off win. It was Nedomlel's 6th of the year after playing the first half of the season without a goal.
Another point shot from the left point also led to a Swift Current goal as Dillon Heatherington took a quick snap shot that deflected off Ryon Moser and in for a 2-0 Broncos lead. It was Moser's 17th of the season and his 11th point in 7 games against Brandon.
“We weren't hard in the first period,” Heward said. “We tried to make soft plays. Pucks got batted down and they got some momentum. It just snowballed into the second.”
Post-game interview with Assistant Coach Jamie HewardThe Broncos came out slowly in the second period as they were outshot 7-0 by Brandon in the early going. The Wheat Kings cut the lead to 2-1 on Quintin Lisoway's 2nd of the year. Swift Current then had three consecutive power plays in the second half of the period, including a 52 second 5 on 3, but weren't able to convert.
Brandon took advantage of of a double minor high sticking penalty to Broncos forward Zac Mackay and tied the game at 14:26 of the third period. Taylor Cooper banked a puck off Dalton Reum's skates and the Wheat Kings sent the game to overtime.
“Good learning experience,” Heward said. “The coaches were hard on them in between periods and after the game. They're young kids they're going to have to learn from this.”
Laurikainen earned the win with 20 saves on 22 Brandon shots. Boes stopped 31 of 34 Swift Current shots.
Swift Current went 0 for 3 on the man advantage, while allowing a single Brandon goal on four power plays.
The standings didn't shift much with the win as both 8th place Kootenay and 9th place Lethbridge also won. The Ice beat Medicine Hat so 7th place Swift Current moved to within 2 points of the 6th place Tigers.
The Broncos continue their road swing in Calgary on Friday and Red Deer on Saturday. You can hear both games on The Eagle 94.1 FM with The New Pioneer Co-op Home Centre Broncos Hockey.
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Sat, May 4, 10:00 AM
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