The Swift Current Broncos continued a five game homestand on Tuesday night with a 4-3 win over the Red Deer Rebels.
Conor Geekie earned his fifth career hat-trick in the win, scoring the game’s opening goal, as well as the game winner, and a goal to restore a Bronco lead in the second. The Arizona Coyotes prospect said he said going back to basics, and his teammates were keys to his success.
“I think I just played a lot simpler,” Geekie said. “I think you just found the soft spots on the ice and trusted my guys to do what they do best.”
The Broncos got out to a 2-0 lead in the first period after Geekies first of the night was scored on the powerplay just 97 seconds in. It was the Broncos first powerplay goal in six games, and first in 32 chances. The second was scored by Peyton Kettles, his first in the WHL as his point shot deflected off a Rebel and past Chase Wutzke.
The Rebels would bring the game back to even just five-and-a-half minutes into the second period as Kalan Lind, and Ollie Josephson each scored to tie the game. Geekies second of the night came to restore the lead, one the Broncos wouldn’t relinquish the rest of the way.
Geekie made the game 4-2 just about two minutes into the third period and the Rebels would continue to push after though as they aimed to tie the game. The Rebels ultimately outshot the Broncos 30-9 in the final two periods, and they’d get their one third period goal with some controversy as a shot from the corner redirected onto Reid Dyck with the officials calling it a goal to bring the game back to within one.
Geekie added that the team handled the adversity of the two-goal lead disappearing, and the controversy of the goal quite well.
“It just shows how relentless we are,” he said. “And I think there was never kind of a, a down moment on the bench.”
Dyck made 33 saves for the victory. The Broncos were 1-for-5 on the powerplay, and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.
The Broncos continue their homestand on Friday when they host Edmonton.