The Swift Current Broncos earned a 3-0 win to open their 2024 First Round playoff series on Friday night to take a 1-0 series lead.
Reid Dyck made 33 saves in the game, including 19-saves in the third period, keeping the zero on the scoreboard, making numerous ten-bell saves.
Broncos Interim Head Coach Taras McEwen said it was a pretty special performance from their superstar netminder.
“He had a real good one tonight, obviously,” he said. “Some some saves that he came in and came big for us near the end. Obviously, we want to defend a little bit better at times. But, yeah, he’s been there all year for us and obviously a real important player for us.”
Caleb Wyrostok, the longest serving Bronco, originally drafted in 2018, opened the scoring for the Broncos just over eight minutes into the hockey game, and the Broncos took over after that.
Conor Geekie scored late in the first period on the powerplay to give the Broncos the 2-0 lead, one that would remain until the third period. Clarke Caswell’s insurance marker in the third would extend the Broncos lead and McEwen said there were some moments they’d like to clean up heading into Game 2 on Saturday.
“The second period, a couple of times where they had some real good push back,” McEwen said. “We wanted to kind of stop that a little bit quicker, just some small breakdowns that we’ll look to clean up for tomorrow.”
The Broncos fired 28 shots towards Lethbridge’s netminder Harrison Meneghin, and were 1-for-2 on the powerplay. The Broncos penalty kill was 4-for-4.
Game two of the best-of-seven series is Saturday at 7:00 p.m. from Innovationplex with Redhead Equipment Case IH Broncos Hockey on Country 94.1 FM starting at 6:45.