After six full days off to refine their game, the Swift Current Broncos will return to the ice to host the Prince Albert Raiders on Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Credit Union iplex.
The Broncos are currently third in the East Division with a 25-16-3-5 record, but have lost their last three games. The Raiders are last in the Western Hockey League with an 11-35-3-2 record.
The Broncos are led by 18-year-old Tyler Steenbergen, who is tied for third in WHL scoring with 35 goals in 49 games. Import Aleksi Heponiemi leads all WHL rookies with 61 points and currently has 18 points during an eight-game point streak.
The Broncos will be looking for improved results on the penalty kill, which has plummeted to a league worst 71.6 percent. They have allowed six goals on nine opportunities over their last two games, losses to the Saskatoon Blades and Regina Pats.
The Broncos have won all six previous meetings against the Raiders this season. Heponiemi leads the team with nine points during the season series, while Ryan Graham has four goals in as many games. Taz Burman holds four wins over the Raiders this season with a 1.86 goals against average and a .936 save percentage.
The game will also likely be the final WHL game at the Credit Union iplex for Raiders’ captain Tim Vanstone. The Swift Current native is on pace to reach 300 WHL games in March and has 21 points in 47 games this season, his fifth in the league.
