Ryan Graham sure knows how to make a first impression.

He and Lane Pederson both had a goal and three assists as the Swift Current Broncos beat the Saskatoon Blades 5-1 in Graham's debut with his new team.

“I was just trying to read off him,” Graham said. “He's a really good player and he's good with the puck. I was just trying to get myself in good positions there and we seemed to hit it off right off the bat.”

Saskatoon dealt Graham to Swift Current on Sunday and the overage forward faced off with his old team only two days later. Despite his success in the game it never stopped being surreal playing against the team that has been his family for more than half a decade.

“I tried to be really focused but right to the end of the game it was still weird,” Graham said. “Seeing them skate off to the other side was still a little strange for me, but it was a really good start with the Broncos and I'm really looking forward to it.”

The game got off to a pretty slow start until the Broncos struck on a power play midway through the first period. Graham took a feed from Aleksi Heponiemi at the side of the net and put a pass behind his back to Pederson for the one-timer.

“We did a similar play when we were messing around in practice early this morning,” Graham said. “It worked in practice so I thought maybe I'll just float a backhand in there and sure enough he was right there for it.”

Pederson and Graham struck again late in the period creating and neutral zone turnover and converting a give-and-go for Graham's first goal in a Broncos uniform.

Swift Current added to their lead early in the second period when Tyler Steenbergen scored his first of two goals on the night by stealing it in front of Saskatoon's night and outwaiting goaltender Brock Hamm to find a hole.

Pederson and Graham the set Kaden Elder up for a one-timer to ensure all three members of their line had goals on the night.

“They have speed,” Smith said. “They went to the holes and Ryan made some good plays down low. He's a bigger guy that's good bellow the hash marks. Lane's speed he can really put people on their heels and (Elder) filled in real well on the right side. I thought they just played a speedy, good game, got pucks deep and just went to work down low.”

For Elder it was his second goal in as many games. The 18-year-old has been a bit snake bitten this season despite a number of good chances. Maybe now the puck is beginning to go in for him.

“It's starting to bounce my way,” Elder said. “I've just got to keep playing the way I am, working hard and finding the open spots. With who I'm playing with right now they'll hit me if it's open.”

Steenbergen struck again on another power play and the Broncos hit the cruise control in the third period with a 5-0 lead.

In addition to Graham, the Broncos also got Calvin Spencer and Arthur Miller back from their recent injuries. Those additions gave Swift Current the kind of depth they haven't had for almost a month and paid off immediately.

“You add two 20-year-olds and a 19-year-old that helps any team,” Smith said. “(Graham) obviously made a great debut and hopefully can continue that.”

Logan Christensen was able to break Travis Child's shutout on a late power play, but it was a strong game with 30 saves for the Swift Current netminder.

The Broncos went 2 for 5 on the power play and held the Blades to 1 for 4.

The win moves Swift Current to 12-7-2-4 on the season and a tie with Moose Jaw for second place in the WHL East Division. It's another busy week for the Broncos as they visit Prince Albert on Wednesday, Lethrbridge on Friday and the Kootenay Ice on Saturday.

For Graham getting right to work maybe isn't a bad thing.

“It takes your mind off the whole transition,” he noted. “Better just get at it. It just makes it a little easier.”

Prince Albert is struggling as of late with five straight losses and only one win in their last ten games. The Broncos aren't taking them lightly.

“It's a team coming off a road swing,” Smith said. “They didn't fare so well in BC like a lot of teams. They've moved one of their top guys and they've got a different look on their back end. I'm sure they're going to come out hard it's a divisional game. It's still November nobody is throwing in the towel yet. We play them close and every time in PA seems to go right down to the wire.”

You can hear Wednesday's game from Prince Albert live on The Eagle 94.1 FM with Robertson Family Group Broncos Hockey at 6:30pm.