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Swift Current Broncos
Swift Current Broncos
City	Swift Current, Saskatchewan
League	Western Hockey League
Conference	Eastern
Division	East
Founded	1967
Home arena	Credit Union iPlex
Colours	Blue, Black and Silver;
General manager	Mark Lamb
Head coach	Mark Lamb
	Website; www.scbroncos.com
Franchise history
1967–74	Swift Current Broncos
1974–86	Lethbridge Broncos
1986–present	Swift Current Broncos

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.

[edit] 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. [1] 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.

[edit] Season-by-season record

[edit] 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

[edit] 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

[edit] Team records

Statistic	Total	Season
Team records for a single 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

Statistic	Player	Total	Season
Individual player records for a single 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

[edit] NHL alumni

Retired numbers:

[edit] Coaches

Swift Current Broncos original logo.

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

[edit] See also

List of ice hockey teams in Saskatchewan

[edit] External links

Swift Current Broncos official website

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