The monkey is officially off Swift Current's back.

Stuart Skinner made 36 saves as the Swift Current Broncos played terrific defensive hockey down the stretch to beat Regina 3-2 and eliminate the Pats after a first-round series that went the distance.

"It's unbelievable," said Broncos Captain Glenn Gawdin. "Just how everything ended last year playing these guys for us it was redemption. Not just our team, but the guys who played for Calgary and Lethbridge that got beat out by these guys."



There are 11 players left from last season's Broncos team that Regina eliminated in the second round, three players on the Broncos now from a Calgary club that Regina beat in the first round last year and three more from a Lethbridge squad that lost to the Pats in back-to-back seasons.

For Skinner it was his first win playoff series win over the Pats after facing them in three straight years.

"I kind of forgot about what it feels like to win a series," Skinner said. "Especially against Regina. I had some revenge to give back to them so I was really happy I was able to do it with the group of guys in this dressing room with the family I have in front of me... it's probably the best feeling I've had yet so far in this league. I was really happy I could do it with this group of guys I did it with."



Gawdin and Tyler Steenbergen each had a goal and an assist in helping lead the Broncos to the series win over the Pats. They were the only two players left from a first-round loss to the Pats three years ago.

In a series that had been very up and down with mostly lopsided games, the deciding game was the closest and most intense.

"The best game of the series by far," said Broncos Associate Coach Ryan Smith. "For us we were fortunate enough to come out on top. We beat a very good team."



The Broncos got off to a bit of a slow start as Cameron Hebig scored his sixth of the series kicking in a deflected shot by Robbie Holmes from just outside the crease. The Pats at one point had a 12-3 shots advantage before Swift Current pushed back.

"They got the first goal of the game which has kind of happened the last few," Smith said. "We had to rebound. The second half of the period we were fine. They pushed hard."

Steenbergen converted a nice passing play form Swift Current's top line to tie the game. It was his sixth of the series as the teams finished the first period in a tied score for the first time in the series.

Max Patterson gave the Broncos their first lead of the night in the second period as Giorgio Estephan made a nice move to stay onside before setting up a wide-open Patterson.

In what could have been a bit of a flashback to last season's Game 6 against Regina, Gawdin extended Swift Current's lead to 3-1. He found himself wide-open in front of the Regina goal and converted a feed from Aleksi Heponiemi for his fifth goal of the series.

"I think that was just us establishing a forecheck," Gawdin noted. "Steener and Heppo did a great job getting in there and getting pressure on their D. If Heppo has the puck I just have to get open and he'll find me."

It took a little over two minutes for Regina to respond as Holmes converted the rebound of a Josh Mahura wrap-around to cut Swift Current's lead to only one. That meant the third period was going to require a tension-filled effort to close the series out.

"That's just our mindset," Gawdin said. "Our main focus was shutting them down and limiting their opportunities."

In a series often dominated by special teams there was only one penalty call all game and the Broncos were able to kill off a Beck Malenstyn tripping minor while protecting their lead in the third period.

"It was amazing especially in the third period," Skinner said. "In the last 15 seconds they had a wide open chance and that's the one I couldn't find. Sissons went right in front of it and then chipped it out. After the game I had to hug him and let him know we won the game because of him."

Ryan Kubic made 18 saves for Regina in a losing cause.

The Pats were without import defenceman Libor Hajek and forward Emil Oksanen. They didn't have goaltender Max Paddock at all in the series. They are now idle for six weeks until hosting the 2018 Memorial Cup.

Now the Broncos have to wait to see who they will play in the second round as the Prince Albert Raiders visit the Moose Jaw Warriors for a Game 7 tomorrow night.

"We know whether it's Moose Jaw or PA it's going to be another hard game," Smith said. "We'll enjoy tonight and then we'll move on and prepare for both of those teams as we wait for the result of the game tomorrow."

If Prince Albert wins the Broncos will host the Raiders in the first two games of the second round, while if it's the Warriors the Broncos would head to Moose Jaw on the weekend.