The Swift Current Broncos fought for their playoff lives, but were eliminated in a 3-2 loss to the host Medicine Hat Tigers on Friday.
The two teams traded chances in the opening period, but it was the Tigers who scored the only goal when Markus Ruck’s pass deflected off a Broncos stick and in for his first goal of the season midway through the period.
Each team scored twice in the second period. Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll doubled the Tigers lead 6:57 into the middle stance with a one-timed goal on a three-on—two rush. The Broncos replied 3:10 later when Rylan Gould blocked a shot that led to a shorthanded breakaway goal from Connor Dale to cut the lead in half. The Broncos tied the game 1:44 later on a power play goal from Hunter Mayo with a heavy point shot. The Tigers regained the lead 53 seconds later when Ryder Ritchie deposited his fourth goal for a 3-2 Tigers lead after two periods, a goal that would hold up as the series clincher.
Reid Dyck took the loss despite an impressive performance in goal with 36 saves to end his Bronco career. Harrison Meneghin earned the win for the Tigers with 25 saves as they won the series four games to one.
