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 returned to Swift Current, and played there since 1986, at the Credit Union iPlex.
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SWIFT CURRENT BRONCOS TICKETS
| EVENT | DATE | AVAILABILITY |
|---|
| Swift Current Broncos vs. Tri-City Americans Tickets 11/19 | Nov 19, 2024
Tue, 7:00 PM |  | | Swift Current Broncos vs. Regina Pats Tickets 11/22 | Nov 22, 2024
Fri, 7:00 PM | | | Brandon Wheat Kings vs. Swift Current Broncos Tickets 11/23 | Nov 23, 2024
Sat, 7:00 PM | | | Moose Jaw Warriors vs. Swift Current Broncos Tickets 11/26 | Nov 26, 2024
Tue, 7:00 PM | | | Swift Current Broncos vs. Prince Albert Raiders Tickets 11/29 | Nov 29, 2024
Fri, 7:00 PM | |
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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 1980's, 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. The
Lethbridge Hurricanes moved in to replace the Broncos in southern Alberta.
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 current Sabre coach
Lindy Ruff) were killed. Their jersey numbers were retired by the team afterwards, and 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.
The team 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, the team's only 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 their home games at the
Credit Union iPlex.
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
|
| 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
|
| 1999–00
| 72
| 47
| 21
| 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
| Pts
| GF
| GA
| 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
|
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
|
| Least goals for
| 135
| 2004–05
|
| Least goals against
| 170
| 1999–00
|
| 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
| 1999–00
|
| Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played
|
NHL alumni
Retired numbers:
- 8 Scott Krueger
- 9 Brent Ruff
- 11 Chris Mantyka
- 22 Trent Kresse
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 2009
- Mark Lamb 2009 to present
See also
- List of ice hockey teams in Saskatchewan