Broncos Search for Consistency in Alberta

The Swift Current Broncos are searching for consistency as they head into Edmonton Friday night to play the Oil Kings.

"We've just got to try and build off that and try to play more consistent every game," said forward Jay Merkley. "We have great moments every game, but we need to put together a full sixty minutes and have consistent efforts for back-to-back games."

Swift Current is 9-10-1-2 since the holiday break and have dropped four points behind Regina for top spot in the WHL East Division.

Edmonton is on a roll having won 13 of their last 15 games. They sit alone on top of the Eastern Conference.

"Plain and simple we just need to play the best hockey we've played all year," Merkley said. "Coming down the stretch here we need to come together as a team... do what it takes to win."

It's the start of a two-game Alberta trip.

"We're going on a trip that is going to be tough," said Broncos Assistant Coach Jamie Heward. "Edmonton is flying high. They're a very good hockey team. There's a reason why they're in first place."

"Red Deer plays hard. They're very good at home. They're fighting for spots as well. Neither one of those games is going to be easy."

Slow starts have been an issue for the Broncos as they've been up and down since Christmas.

"I think we just need to prepare better," Merkley noted. "If we do that we shouldn't have any problem. We've proven ourselves we can do it, we've come back numerous times, but we prefer to not get ourselves into those kinds of situations."

You can hear the game on The Eagle 94.1 FM with Pioneer Co-op Home Centre Broncos Hockey at 7:30pm. Swift Current is in Red Deer on Saturday.