An impressive honour for Swift Current's bench boss ahead of the WHL Playoffs.

Broncos Head Coach/Director of Player Personnel Manny Viveiros is the WHL Eastern Conference Coach of the Year.

The Western Conference nominee is Dennis Williams from Everett and the league will announce an overall winner in May.

Viveiros led Swift Current to the second best point total in franchise history with a record of 48-17-5-2.

That was good enough for second in the WHL and fourth spot in the Canadian Hockey League power rankings in only the second season for Viveiros as a WHL Head Coach.

Viveiros guided the Broncos to a 39-23-4-6 record in 2016-17. That team beat Moose Jaw in the first round before falling in a seven game series with the Regina Pats. The former Prince Albert Raiders star defenceman and one time coach of Austria's national team in the Olympics was also named to the staff for this year's Team WHL during the Canada/Russia series in the fall.

From midway through his first season to the explosion of popularity for the team in his second season he has really enjoyed the way Southwest Saskatchewan has embraced the Broncos.

"It's awesome to see how the community has backed us and supported us," Viveiros said this morning before the news of his recognition broke. "Everybody is really enjoying the success that we've had in the regular season and excited to get going in the playoffs. It's something we talk about all the time. We're not just playing for our team ourselves, we're playing for the City of Swift Current. It's nice that even though we're a small community we have everybody behind us supporting us. It helps our kids. It's almost like an extra man."

Swift Current had to get through the playoffs last season starting as the road team. This time around they get the luxury of Games 1 and 2 against Regina on home ice this weekend.

"We worked hard this year to get home ice advantage," Viveiros noted. "We absolutely love playing in our own building here. For the smallest market team in the CHL we've got one of the loudest building. It really helps our club and we're so excited to have our first two games here."

The Broncos finished 15 points ahead of Regina in the WHL standings this year, but their records were almost identical since big changes at the January 10th deadline.

"It's really close," Viveiros noted. "The difference as far as points are concerned between the two teams that means nothing in playoffs. They made considerable changes at the deadline and so did we. Both teams have greatly improved their rosters. It's going to be a real good series here. There's not a favourite... we know how good they are and how good they can be. It's a very, very even series all the way through."

Preparations are well underway for the Broncos now as they get set for what will be a tough match-up with their rivals.

"We've had a couple real good days of practice," Viveiros said. "The kids are excited. We're healthy and ready to get going on Friday."

Viveiros wasn't the only Broncos name among award winners today.

Aleksi Heponiemi is the Eastern Conference nominee for the WHL Most Sportsmanlike Award. The flashy Finn had the WHL's best point per game ratio with 118 points in only 57 games while only taking 28 minutes in penalties.

Heponiemi and Broncos captain Glenn Gawdin were two of the three forwards on the WHL Eastern Conference First All-Star Team. Forward Tyler Steenbergen and defenceman Colby Sissons landed on the Eastern Conference Second All-Star Team.

Former Broncos goaltender Logan Flodell is the Eastern Conference nominee for goaltender of the year and made the Eastern Conference First All-Star Team. Swift Current dealt Flodell to Lethbridge as a part of a multi-player deal at the WHL Trade Deadline.

The award winning Broncos hos tthe Pats on Friday and Saturday to start their best-of-seven series in front of a sold out Innovation Credit Union iPlex crowd. Swift Current is also selling slots for fan busses to the games in Regina next Monday and Wednesday.

We will have all playoff games for you live on The Eagle 94.1 FM with Robertson Family Group Broncos Hockey at 6:30pm.