Backup goaltender Joel Hofer stopped 41 of 42 shots and all three shootout attempts to lift the Swift Current Broncos to a 2-1 shootout win over the Calgary Hitmen Saturday.
“It’s great,” said Hofer after his second home appearance for the Broncos. “The crowd was awesome. After the win the guys congratulated me and it was a great feeling, but we are focused now on Brandon tomorrow.”
Making only his fourth Western Hockey League appearance, the rookie netminder improved to 2-1-1-0 after stopping Jake Kryski, Jakob Stukel, and Jake Bean in the shootout. Tyler Steenbergen scored for the Broncos in the shootout as they won their second straight game.
“That obviously wasn’t our best effort,” said captain Glenn Gawdin. “But you have to give credit to Hofer there, he was a rock in there and he won the game for us. Sometimes you are going to have those nights and for him that is a big step, his second win. Now we just know we have that trust in him.”
Sahvan Khaira had jumped into the rush and fired home his third goal of the season seven minutes into the second period for a 1-0 Broncos lead. Kryski tied the game in the third period with a power play goal.
Nick Schneider fell to 6-10-3-1 with 24 saves on 25 shots for the Hitmen, who finished a five-game road trip with a 0-2-2-1 record.
Swift Current improved to 15-4-1-0, while Calgary dropped to 6-13-3-1.
The Broncos are back in action on Sunday when they travel to visit the Brandon Wheat Kings for their third game in as many days.
