Only weeks after being traded from Swift Current to Calgary, Connor Hvidston is back at the InnovationPlex tonight as his Hitmen visit the Broncos.
Hvidston played 168 games over three seasons in Swift Current and was a draft pick of the Anaheim Ducks.
He requested a trade before this season and landed in Calgary where he has 7 points in his first 5 games.
Swift Current is riding a three-game winning streak and sits 3-3 on the season. Calgary is 2-3.
"I think I expect a real hardnosed competitive game," said Broncos head coach Taras McEwan. "I think Calgary's kind of at that point where they're looking to take a big step obviously there. Fighting to make the playoffs and to make that transition from some of their young players taking on more important roles. Watching the last couple of games, they've started to really play a lot better and play a lot tighter.
"They have some really good top end, high end skilled players. Just want to make sure that you know we have numbers back that we play physical. We don't want to give them any of the easy odd man rushes and then take advantage of the opportunities that they give us. I think it will be a real competitive game."
The Broncos started the season 0-3 before rattling off wins against Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Brandon. Confidence is growing throughout their lineup.
"You can tell that obviously the guys expect a lot of themselves and out of our team here this season," McEan said. "Whenever you get that first one, I thought our confidence did definitely improve. Some of our practice habits and just our compete and demanding a little bit more out of it. I think we took a real good step last week."
The Broncos continue to run a defensive group loaded with youth. Their coach is impressed with how they've taken to the next level.
"I've been really happy with how they've been playing," McEwan said. "I think anytime you come from minor hockey into this league, it's definitely adjustments. Usually takes 10 games before they can really get a feel of what the pace and get some consistency on them. They've kind of been thrown into the fire a little bit.
"I know there's a lot of question marks on our back end and some of the young guys, but we believed in in the young guys, I think they have really good tool sets. They're different players, but we want good defenders who move pucks and they're really responsible and I think they've come into their own and have shown that they're able to do that."
Sophomore Peyton Kettles makes his return to the lineup tonight after missing both games on the weekend. Rylan Gould is out week-to-week having sustained an injury on Saturday in Brandon.
You can hear the action on Country 94.1FM with Redhead Equipment and Case IH Broncos Hockey at 6:45pm. Puck drop is just after 7pm from the InnovationPlex.