Swift Current Broncos

Swift Current Broncos
City Swift Current, Saskatchewan
League Western Hockey League
Conference Eastern
Division East
Founded 1986 (1986)
Home arena Credit Union iPlex
Colours Blue, Green and White
              
General manager Emanuel Viveiros
Head coach Emanuel Viveiros
Championships

1989 Memorial Cup Champions

1989, 1993 WHL champions
Website www.scbroncos.com
Franchise history
1967–1974 Swift Current Broncos
1974–1986 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 then returned to Swift Current, and have played there since 1986, at the Credit Union iPlex.

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 1980s, 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.

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.

1986 Team Bus Crash

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 Dallas Stars 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.

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
1999–2000 72 47 18 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 GF GA Pts 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
2009–10 72 37 30 1 4 231 232 79 3rd East Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final
2010–11 72 26 44 0 2 181 260 54 6th East Out of playoffs
2011–12 72 27 37 2 6 216 272 62 5th East Out of playoffs
2012–13 72 36 29 3 4 206 193 79 3rd East Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final
2013–14 72 38 25 3 6 248 229 85 2nd East Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final
2014–15 72 34 33 1 4 221 245 73 3rd East Lost Eastern Conference quarter-final
2015–16 72 24 38 7 3 189 249 58 5th East Out of playoffs

WHL Championship history

Team records

Team records for a single season
StatisticTotalSeason
Most points1111988–89
Most wins551988–89
Most goals for4471988–89
Least goals for1352004–05
Least goals against1701999–2000
Most goals against3931986–87
Individual player records for a single season
StatisticPlayerTotalSeason
Most goalsJason Krywulak811992–93
Most assistsTerry Ruskowski931973–74
Most pointsJason Krywulak1621992–93
Most points, rookieJoe Sakic1331986–87
Most points, defencemanDan Lambert1021988–89
Best GAA (goalie)Bryce Wandler2.061999–2000
Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played

NHL alumni

Retired numbers: The Swift Current Broncos have retired the jersey numbers of the four players who died in the aforementioned 1986 team bus accident.

Coaches

Swift Current Broncos original logo.

See also

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