Swift Current Broncos
The Swift Current Broncos are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League. Founded during 1967 in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, the Broncos played seven seasons before relocating to Lethbridge from 1974 to 1986 as the Lethbridge Broncos. The Broncos then returned to Swift Current, and have played there since 1986, at the Innovation Credit Union iPlex.
Swift Current Broncos | |
---|---|
City | Swift Current, Saskatchewan |
League | Western Hockey League |
Conference | Eastern |
Division | Central |
Founded | 1967 |
Home arena | Innovation Credit Union iPlex |
Colours | Blue, green, white, black |
General manager | Dean Brockman |
Head coach | Dean Brockman |
Championships | 1989 Memorial Cup Champions 1989, 1993, 2018 WHL champions |
Website | www.scbroncos.com |
Franchise history | |
1967–1974 | Swift Current Broncos |
1974–1986 | Lethbridge Broncos |
1986–present | Swift Current Broncos |
History
The Broncos started out as the Swift Current Broncos in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, but moved to Lethbridge in 1974. The team had been losing money in tiny Swift Current and the new Lethbridge Sportsplex was beckoning for a team. The Broncos played in Lethbridge for twelve seasons, winning the President's Cup in 1982–83. In the mid 1980s, the team came up for sale, and despite a large and loyal fanbase in Lethbridge, the Broncos were bought by local interests in Swift Current and moved back to their original home. After a year without WHL hockey in Lethbridge, the Calgary Wranglers moved to the city and became the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
The Broncos won its only Memorial Cup championship two years later at the 1989 Memorial Cup. In the 1993 Memorial Cup, the Broncos were eliminated in a tie-breaker. Afterwards, head coach Graham James resigned to coach the Calgary Hitmen, but three seasons later, allegations arose that he sexually abused former player Sheldon Kennedy during their days together with the Broncos. James was convicted of sexual offenses and sentenced to three years in prison.
The Broncos play in the second smallest market in the Canadian Hockey League. The only market smaller than Swift Current is Bathurst, New Brunswick, home of the QMJHL's Acadie-Bathurst Titan.
1986 team bus crash
On December 30, 1986, the Broncos' bus crashed on the way to a game in Regina. Four players: Trent Kresse, Scott Kruger, Chris Mantyka and Brent Ruff (younger brother of then-player and former Buffalo Sabres and Dallas Stars coach Lindy Ruff) were killed.[1] The team still wears a commemorative patch in remembrance of the four players. The rest of the team, led by future NHL star Joe Sakic, who recorded 60 goals, played out the season despite the loss. In a move to memorialise the fallen players, the WHL now awards the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy to the League's Player of the Year.
Season-by-season record
First Broncos (1967–74)
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
1967–68 | 60 | 16 | 38 | 6 | 242 | 343 | 38 | 9th Overall | Out of playoffs |
1968–69 | 60 | 14 | 44 | 2 | 186 | 329 | 30 | 4th West | Lost quarter-final |
1969–70 | 60 | 27 | 31 | 2 | 240 | 265 | 56 | 3rd West | Lost quarter-final |
1970–71 | 66 | 24 | 40 | 2 | 229 | 290 | 50 | 4th West | Lost quarter-final |
1971–72 | 68 | 25 | 42 | 1 | 242 | 311 | 51 | 5th East | Out of playoffs |
1972–73 | 68 | 27 | 35 | 6 | 300 | 359 | 60 | 5th East | Out of playoffs |
1973–74 | 68 | 35 | 24 | 9 | 240 | 306 | 79 | 3rd East | Lost semi-final |
Second Broncos (1986–present)
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
1986–87 | 72 | 28 | 40 | 4 | – | 331 | 393 | 60 | 6th East | Lost East quarter-final |
1987–88 | 72 | 44 | 26 | 2 | – | 388 | 312 | 90 | 4th East | Lost East semi-final |
1988–89 | 72 | 55 | 16 | 1 | – | 447 | 319 | 111 | 1st East | Won championship and Memorial Cup |
1989–90 | 72 | 29 | 39 | 4 | – | 323 | 351 | 62 | 6th East | Lost in first round |
1990–91 | 72 | 40 | 29 | 3 | – | 369 | 351 | 83 | 3rd East | Lost in first round |
1991–92 | 72 | 35 | 33 | 4 | – | 296 | 313 | 74 | 5th East | Lost East semi-final |
1992–93 | 72 | 49 | 21 | 2 | – | 384 | 267 | 100 | 1st East | Won championship Lost Memorial Cup tie-breaker |
1993–94 | 72 | 35 | 33 | 4 | – | 284 | 258 | 74 | 4th East | Lost East semi-final |
1994–95 | 72 | 31 | 34 | 7 | – | 274 | 284 | 69 | 6th East | Lost in first round |
1995–96 | 72 | 36 | 31 | 5 | – | 285 | 271 | 77 | 1st Central | Lost in first round |
1996–97 | 72 | 44 | 23 | 5 | – | 336 | 243 | 93 | 2nd East | Lost Eastern Conference semi-final |
1997–98 | 72 | 44 | 19 | 9 | – | 276 | 220 | 97 | 2nd East | Lost Eastern Conference semi-final |
1998–99 | 72 | 34 | 32 | 6 | – | 232 | 211 | 74 | 4th East | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final |
1999–2000 | 72 | 47 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 257 | 170 | 101 | 1st East | Lost Eastern Conference semi-final |
2000–01 | 72 | 43 | 20 | 7 | 2 | 275 | 215 | 95 | 1st East | Lost Eastern Conference final |
2001–02 | 72 | 42 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 274 | 218 | 97 | 2nd Central | Lost Eastern Conference semi-final |
2002–03 | 72 | 38 | 24 | 7 | 3 | 240 | 215 | 86 | 2nd Central | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final |
2003–04 | 72 | 36 | 29 | 7 | 0 | 234 | 209 | 79 | 4th Central | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final |
2004–05 | 72 | 22 | 41 | 6 | 3 | 135 | 218 | 53 | 5th Central | Out of playoffs |
Season | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts | Finish | Playoffs |
2005–06 | 72 | 24 | 34 | 6 | 8 | 175 | 242 | 62 | 4th Central | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final |
2006–07 | 72 | 33 | 36 | 1 | 2 | 199 | 241 | 69 | 3rd East | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final |
2007–08 | 72 | 41 | 24 | 1 | 6 | 244 | 205 | 89 | 3rd East | Lost Eastern Conference semi-final |
2008–09 | 72 | 42 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 258 | 220 | 86 | 3rd East | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final |
2009–10 | 72 | 37 | 30 | 1 | 4 | 231 | 232 | 79 | 3rd East | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final |
2010–11 | 72 | 26 | 44 | 0 | 2 | 181 | 260 | 54 | 6th East | Out of playoffs |
2011–12 | 72 | 27 | 37 | 2 | 6 | 216 | 272 | 62 | 5th East | Out of playoffs |
2012–13 | 72 | 36 | 29 | 3 | 4 | 206 | 193 | 79 | 3rd East | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final |
2013–14 | 72 | 38 | 25 | 3 | 6 | 248 | 229 | 85 | 2nd East | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final |
2014–15 | 72 | 34 | 33 | 1 | 4 | 221 | 245 | 73 | 3rd East | Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final |
2015–16 | 72 | 24 | 38 | 7 | 3 | 189 | 249 | 58 | 5th East | Out of playoffs |
2016–17 | 72 | 39 | 23 | 4 | 6 | 247 | 239 | 88 | 3rd East | Lost Eastern Conference semi-final |
2017–18 | 72 | 48 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 284 | 213 | 103 | 2nd East | Won championship |
2018–19 | 68 | 11 | 51 | 4 | 2 | 135 | 301 | 28 | 6th East | Out of playoffs |
2019–20 | 63 | 10 | 48 | 2 | 3 | 129 | 298 | 25 | 6th Central | Cancelled |
WHL Championship history
Current roster
Updated August 8, 2020.[2]
# | Nat | Player | Pos | S/G | Age | Acquired | Birthplace | Drafted |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
29 | ![]() |
Matthew Benson | D | R | 19 | 2019 | Vancouver, British Columbia | Undrafted |
14 | ![]() |
Jordan Borysiuk | C | R | 18 | 2019 | Mannville, Alberta | Eligible 2020 |
34 | ![]() |
Kye Buchanan | RW | R | 18 | 2018 | Lethbridge, Alberta | Eligible 2020 |
37 | ![]() |
Aiden Bulych | RW | L | 18 | 2019 | Yorkton, Saskatchewan | Eligible 2020 |
37 | ![]() |
Kaleb Bulych | D | R | 20 | 2019 | Yorkton, Saskatchewan | Undrafted |
15 | ![]() |
Hendrik De Klerk | D | L | 17 | 2019 | Swift Current, Saskatchewan | Eligible 2021 |
– | ![]() |
Vladislav Demidovich | F | L | 18 | 2020 | Belarus | Eligible 2020 |
30 | ![]() |
Isaiah DiLaura | G | L | 20 | 2020 | Elko New Market, Minnesota | Undrafted |
36 | ![]() |
Bode Hagan | RW | R | 18 | 2020 | Alsike, Alberta | Eligible 2020 |
– | ![]() |
Carter Halamandaris | C | R | 17 | 2020 | Portage la Prairie, Manitoba | Eligible 2021 |
4 | ![]() |
Parker Hendren | D | R | 19 | 2020 | Regina, Saskatchewan | Undrafted |
12 | ![]() |
Eric Houk | LW | R | 19 | 2018 | Regina, Saskatchewan | Undrafted |
28 | ![]() |
Sam McGinley | D | L | 17 | 2019 | Calgary, Alberta | Eligible 2021 |
5 | ![]() |
Alex Moar | D | L | 19 | 2018 | Prince Albert, Saskatchewan | Undrafted |
38 | ![]() |
Cole Nagy | C | R | 18 | 2019 | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | Undrafted |
15 | ![]() |
Raphael Pelletier | C | R | 18 | 2019 | St. Albert, Alberta | Eligible 2020 |
1 | ![]() |
Isaac Poulter | G | R | 18 | 2016 | Winnipeg, Manitoba | Undrafted |
21 | ![]() |
Cohner Saleski | RW | R | 18 | 2019 | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | Eligible 2020 |
27 | ![]() |
Garrett Sambrook | D | R | 20 | 2019 | Medora, Manitoba | Undrafted |
24 | ![]() |
Tyler Smithies | LW | L | 20 | 2019 | Calgary, Alberta | Undrafted |
4 | ![]() |
Billy Sowa | D | R | 18 | 2018 | Calgary, Alberta | Eligible 2020 |
20 | ![]() |
Justin Svenson | RW | R | 19 | 2019 | Île-des-Chênes, Manitoba | Undrafted |
19 | ![]() |
Caleb Wyrostok | RW | R | 17 | 2018 | Medicine Hat, Alberta | Eligible 2021 |
Team records
Team records for a single season | ||
Statistic | Total | Season |
---|---|---|
Most points | 111 | 1988–89 |
Most wins | 55 | 1988–89 |
Most goals for | 447 | 1988–89 |
Fewest goals for | 135 | 2004–05 |
Fewest goals against | 170 | 1999–2000 |
Most goals against | 393 | 1986–87 |
Individual player records for a single season | |||
Statistic | Player | Total | Season |
---|---|---|---|
Most goals | Jason Krywulak | 81 | 1992–93 |
Most assists | Terry Ruskowski | 93 | 1973–74 |
Most points | Jason Krywulak | 162 | 1992–93 |
Most points, rookie | Joe Sakic | 133 | 1986–87 |
Most points, defenceman | Dan Lambert | 102 | 1988–89 |
Best GAA (goalie) | Bryce Wandler | 2.06 | 1999–2000 |
Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played |
NHL alumni
Retired numbers: The Swift Current Broncos have retired the jersey numbers of the four players who died in the aforementioned 1986 team bus accident.
- 8 Trent Kresse
- 9 Scott Krueger
- 11 Brent Ruff
- 22 Chris Mantyka
Coaches

- Graham James 1986–87 to 1993–94
- Todd McLellan 1994–95 to 1999–2000
- Brad McEwen 2000–01 to 2002–03
- Randy Smith 2003–04
- Dean Chynoweth 2004–05 to 2008–09
- Mark Lamb 2009–10 to 2015–16
- Emanuel Viveiros 2016 to 2018
- Dean Brockman 2018–present[3]
References
- Joyce, Gare (2006-12-30). "E-Ticket: Denial of Death". ESPN. Missing or empty
|url=
(help) - WHL Network, Western Hockey League, retrieved 2020-08-08
- "Brockman Named Broncos New Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations". OurSportsCentral.com. June 27, 2018.