Colby Harmsworth & Tyler Steenbergen (photo by Darwin Knelsen for scbroncos.com)

Tyler Steenbergen scored twice but it wasn't quite enough as the Swift Current Broncos fell 4-3 to the Calgary Hitmen on Saturday.

The teams battled in a fight filled affair that started to intensify late in the first period. Calgary ended up pulling ahead 4-1 early in the second period as the teams really started getting physical.

"It was a lively affair that's for sure," said Broncos associate coach Ryan Smith. "I thought our team battled hard and showed that we weren't going to go down without a fight. To a man we looked them in the eye and we were there for each other. We weren't happy with the loss but I sure like the way we fought back throughout the game."

The battles seemed to spark the Broncos as goals from Steenbergen and Jamal Watson 31 seconds apart closed the gap to 4-3 midway through the second period.

"Everyone was in the game today," Steenbergen said. "If one guy was in the scrum the rest of the guys were going to get in there. That's what we need. That shows that we're a team and we're working as five out there."

Calgary found a way to hold on in the third period and limit the Broncos to only six shots on net.

"I thought we just needed to get pucks on net," Steenbergen said. "We didn't get enough whistles in their end. We didn't shoot the puck and we were doing too much stick handling. Simply getting a puck on net and getting a rebound those are the ones we need."

Glenn Gawdin fired their best chance of the third period off the crossbar with only 12 seconds left in the game.

The fighting even continued with 98 minutes in additional penalties at the final buzzer.

"Hats off to our guys they played hard to the end," Smith said. "Even past the end. I was really happy with and proud of our guys tonight."

Steenbergen's goals brought him up to 10 in the last 9 games. He's up to 20 on the season and has scored 18 of them since the Christmas break.

"I haven't really switched anything up," he noted. "I think confidence is a big thing. I know I was passing too much at the start of the year and now I'm keeping it on my stick and shooting."

"Obviously I'm getting more than I thought I would be and hopefully they keep coming."

Steenbergen hasn't been on the radar for the upcoming NHL draft. While his scoring outburst could get him some attention he isn't counting on it.

"Hope for the best and expect the worst," Steenbergen said. "I'm not on any of those lists but I want to prove them wrong. I want to show them I should be on there. If it happens that would be awesome, but if it doesn't I just have to keep working."

The Broncos were down to five defencemen for the game with Max Lajoie still dealing with an illness and Dom Schmiemann back with his Midget AAA team in Notre Dame to start playoffs.

Taz Burman made 41 saves for the Broncos in a losing cause.

Swift Current remains 11 points back of Edmonton for the final playoff spot in the WHL Eastern Conference with only 10 games left to play.

They host Red Deer on Tuesday.