By Colton Swidersi

Broncos ready for league playoffs

Feb 13, 2017 | 10:45 AM

The Meadow Lake Broncos provincial run has come to an end following the team’s 4-0 loss to the Wilkie Outlaws on Saturday night.

Head coach Darryl Worms said he was proud of the team’s effort.

“If we got a goal early in the first period – I thought we won the first period handily – and if we got a goal it would have changed the whole outlook of the game,” he said. “Let’s give credit to Wilkie, their goalie played really well and they never let up.”

Chances were there for Meadow Lake as the offence nearly scored on multiple occasions but Wilkie goaltender Jared Herle played a stellar game, stopping more than 40 shots.

The Outlaws first goal, scored just over a minute into the opening frame, was netted by Derek Keller.

Missing Girl

UPDATE: Have you seen Savannah?

Apr 24, 2024

Missing person

Spiritwood RCMP searching for missing woman

Apr 24, 2024

Riding boundaries changing

MP Gary Vidal announces he won't seek re-election

Apr 23, 2024

His marker was the only one in the first. In the second, Brett Harrison added insurance to the Wilkie lead and Patrick Cey beat Meadow Lake goaltender Jared Lafond on the far glove side to make it 3-0 after two periods.

The fourth and final goal of the game was scored by Rory Gregoire.

Without import players Brett Oliphant, Tyson Getzinger and former NHLer DJ King, the Broncos roster was slightly depleted but Worms said missing those three did not impact the game’s outcome.

“We had some good guys in the line-up. Definitely those guys are high-end players but I thing we battled really hard. I strongly believe if we got a goal in that first period the game is different,” he said. “Yes, those guys are definitely skilled players and we missed them but at the same time we had good guys come in and play hard for us.”

With provincial playoffs out of mind for the Broncos, the team can focus on its league playoffs in the Beaver Lakes Hockey League (BLHL)

Worms said if the team comes ready to play, there’s no reason they won’t have a good chance at winning a second straight title.

The Broncos will face the Big River Braves in the second round of league playoffs – the first for Meadow Lake as the team got an opening round bye.  

In three regular season meetings, the Broncos went 3-0 versus Big River winning 9-1, 12-1 and 10-1 in each respective game.

The Braves advanced to play Meadow Lake after sweeping the La Ronge 89er’s in two games.

Games haven’t been scheduled yet but a league official told meadowlakeNOW the series will open this weekend, Feb. 18 and 19.

“I’m happy to see the Broncos organization do as well as they have this year and I’d like to thank the fans for supporting us all year, in provincials and in the playoffs,” Worms added.

Email: colton.swiderski@jpbg.ca              

On Twitter @coltonswiderski

Related articles:

BLHL playoff schedule released; Broncos get first round bye