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#17 Cavin Leth and #19 Dakota Odgers mix it up during their WHL debut (Photo by Marc Smith)

 A few promising performances for the Broncos, but a 4-2 loss to the Moose Jaw Warriors in the pre-season rookie game Tuesday night.

2nd overall 2011 bantam draft pick Brycen Martin scored once and set up the other goal for Swift Current. He says it was certainly a higher level of play than he was used to.

"It took me about one or two (shifts) just to get ready for the speed," said Martin.

"Then I started to get into my groove and I got a lucky bounce for a goal."

18-year-old rookie Graham Black was buzzing all night on a line with Coda Gordon and Shea Howorko. Black had a couple of assists and thought he had a goal in the second period as well.

"From what I saw it hit the back of the net and came out," said Black.

"The ref was just around the corner he couldn't really see it, it's not his fault."

Black was happy with his line's performance.

"I had two pretty good linemates today and they were making plays for me," said last year's Saskatchewan Midget AAA leading scorer.

Gordon scored the other Bronco goal and had an assist. Howorko didn't register a point, but helped create a number of scoring chances.

Tanner Eberle led the Warriors with two goals.

Carter Hansen opened the scoring on the power play just under five minutes into the first period. Martin evened it about a minute later, but Eberle’s first of the game would send Moose Jaw into the break with a 2-1 lead.

Brayden Point and Eberle’s second would extend the Warriors lead to 4-1 in the second.

Gordon scored in the third, but it wasn’t enough as Moose Jaw would hold on for the win.

Broncos rookie goaltender Steven Myland allowed 4 goals on 26 shots through two periods of work. Austin Smith stopped all 9 shots he faced in the third.

Justin Paulic and Daniel Wapple split time in the Warriors goal with each allowing a goal.  Paulic made 13 saves in just over 29 minutes.  Wapple had 10 saves to finish the game.

Moose Jaw was 2-for-7 on the powerplay, while Swift Current went 2-for-6 with the man advantage.

The 1996 born Broncos are all headed back to their midget clubs after their first WHL training camps. Swift Current's next pre-season action is Sunday night in Edmonton.

Interview with Brycen Martin


Interview with Graham Black