The clock struck midnight on a great playoff run for the Swift Current Broncos.

Sam Steel and Austin Wagner each scored twice as the Regina Pats controlled Game 7 of the second round series from start to finish on the way to a 5-1 win over the Broncos. The Pats erased a 3-1 series deficit and advanced to the WHL Eastern Conference Final.

“Just wasn't our night,” said Broncos associate coach Ryan Smith. “Hats off to the Regina Pats. They fought their way back in the series. They controlled most of the play tonight it was on their terms and we were playing catch up most of the game.”

It was the most lopsided loss for the Broncos in the playoffs as they had at least been close in every other game they played.

“They had a better start than us and had more jump,” said Broncos captain Glenn Gawdin. “They kind of took over the game. It wasn't the full team effort we needed and sadly they got the best of us.”

It was a nightmare start of Swift Current as Sam Steel put home a Nick Henry rebound only 2:19 into the game. Filip Ahl then extended that lead a few minutes later when two Broncos ran into each other at their own blue line and Ahl broke in for his second of the playoffs.

“When you give up two goals in the first five minutes you're chasing the game,” Smith said. “That's never easy and we just didn't seem to recover.”

Swift Current had proven they could come from behind all season and had even erased a 2-0 first period deficit in a Game 4 win. They had six minutes of power play time in the first period and couldn't solve Pats goaltender Tyler Brown.

“We felt like we could come back,” Gawdin said. “Throughout this series two goal leads didn't mean much. Obviously some bounces didn't go our way. We didn't quit and we've pretty much done that all year.”

The Broncos had thrived in close games all throughout the playoffs and were never able to get back to striking distance. Regina pulled away with goals from Steel and Wagner in the second period.

“The key was keeping the game close and within reach,” Smith said. “We did that most of the series. It's unfortunate this game got away the way it did it was anticlimactic for the fans. The Western Hockey League has good teams from top to bottom. You give anybody a lead like that early and a little momentum you are always going to be behind the eight-ball.”

Swift Current found a little bit of hope in the third period as Conner Chaulk scored his second of the playoffs on a power play with Jordan Papirny pulled from the Broncos' net. They then got another power play and pulled Papirny again before Wagner sealed the victory into an empty net.

The Broncos were without forward Lane Pederson who missed most of Game 5 and all of the final two games due to injury he sustained on a hit by Dawson Leedahl.

Papirny made 38 saves in what would be his final WHL game. Brown made 23 saves to earn the win for Regina.

Swift Current went 1 for 6 on the power play. They held Regina to 0 for 5 and improved their penalty kill to 87% for the playoffs.

The playoff run was the first time since 2008 that the Broncos had advanced to the second round and they were a game away from their first conference final since 2001.

“It's a little bit unknown when you go in the playoffs with a new group,” Smith said. “Some of the guys hadn't experienced playoffs at this level. Our guys were pretty resilient. Whatever happens tonight it's unfortunate, but for thirteen nights these guys laid it all on the line. You can't ask much more than that.”

At the start of the season the Broncos were expected to battle for the playoff spot and exceeded that expectation. In the playoffs they beat a favoured Moose Jaw Warriors club and took the CHL's top team from Regina to the limit.

“I think just throughout the season nobody expected us to be here,” Gawdin said. “I think for us we had that mentality of why not us. That's what we were saying to each other throughout the season. I think we proved that and kind of turned some heads. I think just trying to build on that and have that winning atmosphere moving forward.”

While 20-year-olds like Papirny, Ryley Lindgren and Ryan Graham will graduate for sure, the Broncos could also be saying goodbye to potential professional players like Gawdin, Pederson and Max Lajoie. If it's the end for Swift Current's captain he has enjoyed the ride.

“It's been unbelievable,” Gawdin said. “The friends and memories I've had along the way I wouldn't change it for the world. Who knows what is going to happen next year, but it's a world class organization that's been nothing but great to me in my time here. My billets, my teammates everybody has been grade A. The staff and you can't say much more about the coaching staff in my time here and the training staff Butter what he does for us and this team it's second to none in this league.”

The coaching staff wrapped up a season that exceeded expectations on and off the ice with a lot of pride. That was their message to the players.

“Just how proud we are of them,” Smith said. “They worked hard all season. They bought in. I think the city is proud of them, the organization is proud of them, the staff is proud of them and they need to be proud of themselves. It's going to take a while to get over this. The ones that are back hopefully they can learn from this.”

Regina will advance to play the winner of another Game 7 between Lethbridge and Medicine Hat. The Broncos will now have to clean out their lockers and head home for the off season. They will carry with them some memories that will last a lifetime.