Southwest Booster: Broncos upend WHL leading Americans
By Staff Writer | The Southwest Booster
Swift Current goaltender Mark Friesen turned aside 29 of 30 shots to backstop the Broncos to a home ice 2-1 win over the Tri-City Americans.
Friesen, who was coming of a shutout win over the Kootenay Ice, improved to 4-5 on the season and has started all 10 Bronco games in goal this season.
Swift Current import forward Stepan Novotny scored his fifth of the season during a first period powerplay, and Adam Lowry scored his first goal of the year in the middle period to count the game winner.
Novotny’s second period assist of Lowry’s game winner was easily the highlight of the game for the Broncos.
“I was coming down two-on-one and usually when I come down like that I am trying to shoot. The guy went down and I figured that I might as well try the toe drag and see what happens and it worked. Then I gave it to Lowry and he put it in. I guess it was a nice play but more importantly it was a goal that won us the game,” he said.
Tri-City’s Patrick Holland scored his sixth of the season midway through the final period to collect the lone Americans goal. Tri-City’s Adam Hughesman picked up an assist on the goal to pick up his team leading 15th point and extended his season starting point streak to 11 games.
Americans netminder Drew Owsley fell to 5-3 on the year after giving up two goals on 34 shots.
The Western Conference leading Americans dropped to 7-3-1-0 and they close out their six-game East Division road trip with a 3-3 mark.
“For Tri we knew it was a tough trip and a long trip and they probably didn’t have much left,” explained Novotny. “But we knew at the same time it was their last game and that they would come out hard and try and win the game early because they might not have as much energy as they think. We knew they were going to have a pretty good start but I thought that we matched it and we played pretty well all game long with a good 60 minute effort.”
Swift Current improved to 4-6 on the year after collecting their second straight win on home ice.
“I think we are learning how to play together as a team a little more and that has been very good for us,” said Novotny. “Everybody makes mistakes out there but we have been able to back each other up. Whoever makes one we are able to step up and get the puck back and get it deep and get a forecheck or do whatever we have to do. We have been able to play a pretty good team game.”
