On the verge of an incredible feat, just one game remains for the Swift Current Abbey Resources Midget AA Broncos in their quest for an undefeated regular season.

The Midget AA Broncos are 35-0-0-0, with the regular-season finale on the go against the Notre Dame Argos at Fairview West tonight.

"Well it's been really special," said forward and alternate captain, Ryland Hornung. "Coming into this year, definitely didn't expect to have this happen. As the year went on, growing confidence, it felt pretty good."

"Right from the start of the year we had good chemistry with our whole team, and everyone just kind of clicked right from the beginning. We can rely on everyone every night, he added."

Looking Back

Over the dominant 35-game stretch, Swift Current has scored an average of 5.66 goals per game, allowing just 1.49 against per game. Both those marks are the best in the province, leading to a torrid +146 goal-differential.

"Like I've said all year, I think our conditioning has come into a huge factor in games," said coach Todd Hornung. "If you look, a lot of times we make a big push in the third period, where we seem to wear teams down. Our fitness level and the commitment they put in off the ice has definitely led to us being able to do some of those things."

Swift Current's win streak isn't the only impressive stat involving the number 35.

The Midget AA Broncos kicked off January with a stretch of 35 unanswered goals, which began in the third period of a 7-2 win over the Prairie Storm on January 4.

Swift Current then shut out the Moose Jaw Warriors 11-0 and 13-0 on January 6 and 9, before an 8-0 shutout over the Lumsden/Bethune Lions on January 12.

"It's a good group of guys to be with - it's been easy to be a leader on the team when they're so good," said captain Jackson Sitter. "Some games were tougher than others. We know when it's a big test for us, and we come prepared every game."

Jackson Sitter, a product of Leader, helps anchor a Midget Broncos back end that is giving up an average of just 1.49 goals-against per game (photo by Eric James)

As Sitter noted, the streak hasn't come without its tough tests and close calls, as two times the Midget AA Broncos needed overtime to keep a zero in the loss column:

January 13: 4-3 OT win over the Lumsden/Bethune Lions
January 20: 4-3 OT win over the Regina Vics

Of note Defenceman Nathan McInnis scored the overtime-winner in both of those games.

Swift Current also earned three one-goal margins of victory in regulation:

October 15: 3-2 over the Notre Dame Hounds
October 28: 1-0 over the Regina Vics
February 9: 2-1 over the Regina Rangers

Six Midget AA Broncos occupy a spot on the list of the Top 25 scorers in the province:

1st - Ryland Hornung - 60 pts
T-3rd - Beau Larson - 52 pts
9th - Brock Oberle - 49 pts
T-15th - Cash Arntsen - 45 pts
T-15th - Quinn Patenaude - 45 pts
T-19th - Levi Lamotte - 43 pts

"I have to thank the boys a lot for that," said Hornung on his provincial-leading season. "They give me lots of chances - it's because of their work that we are able to achieve that (output)."

Ryland Hornung is enjoying a torrid scoring pace of 1.71 points-per-game heading into the regular-season finale (photo by Eric James)

Swift Current also has both of its goalies atop the province.

Brad Nyen's 1.47 goals-against-average ranks first, and his three shutouts have him in second. He also carries a 17-0-0-0 record, and gets the start tonight.

Justin Dueck has the second-best GAA at 1.50, but his four shutouts edge Nyen for best in the province. Dueck has an 18-0-0-0 record, but is away with Team Sask for the Canada Winter Games, so it will be the Nyen show for a while.

"The D want to give them the lower-quality shots, and try to help make the goalies' lives easier," said Sitter, a blueliner who's happy to thrive with that working relationship. "But, it's good to know either goalie you put in can stop the puck."

The Task at Hand

Despite the rarity and notoriety of what's on the line tonight, the Midget Broncos' goal lies in the form of a late playoff run into April, capped off by a provincial championship:

"Obviously the boys are all aware of it and it's something they've worked hard to accomplish," said coach Hornung. "But, I think if you go in the room, they have a bigger goal in mind. This is more of a stepping stone for us. In the hockey world it's something that's pretty rare, so I think they're going to come out and try to accomplish something that not a lot of teams have had the opportunity to do."

"This is a big game for us. I feel like it's going to really contribute to how our playoffs go, and good of a run we can have," added the younger Hornung.

Notre Dame (18-13-1-3) comes into tonight's game in a tie for seventh in the south division standings.

Depending on tonight's result the Argos could finish anywhere between fifth or eighth ahead of playoffs.

"The boys are aware they're coming in here, they're fighting for the chance not to play us (in playoffs), maybe move up the standings," said coach Hornung.

In two previous meetings this season, Swift Current earned a pair of two-goal wins:

October 24: 5-3 win
November 18: 3-1 win

"Well we went over some video with them, I think we've exposed some areas we can capitalize on," Hornung said. " We expect them to come in, and play a very hard, disciplined game, and we're just going to try and continue what we're doing, obviously we want to stay on the same path going into playoffs. Just play the same way, keep focused, and hope for the same result."

Puck drop in the biggest minor hockey moment of the season so far is 8 p.m. from Fairview West.