Swift Current Broncos

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Swift Current Broncos
City: Swift Current, Saskatchewan
League: Western Hockey League
Conference: Eastern
Division: East
Founded: 1967
Home Arena: Centennial Civic Centre
Colours: blue, black and silver
Head Coach: Dean Chynoweth
General Manager: Dean Chynoweth
Franchise history
1967–74: Swift Current Broncos
1974–86: Lethbridge Broncos
1986–Present: Swift Current Broncos

The Swift Current Broncos are a Western Hockey League ice hockey club, founded in 1967. After seven seasons, the team moved to Lethbridge in 1974 as the Lethbridge Broncos; however, they moved back to Swift Current in 1986.

Division titles won: 1988-89, 1992-93, 1995-96, 1999-00, 2000-01
Regular season titles won: 1988-89, 1992-93,
WHL Championships won: 1988-89, 1992-93
Memorial Cup Titles: 1988-89

Contents

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, the Broncos were bought by interests in Swift Current and moved back to their original home.

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 Sabre coach Lindy Ruff) were killed. Their jersey numbers were retired by the team afterwards. 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 memorialize 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 in 1989. They returned to the Memorial Cup in 1993 but were eliminated in the round-robin. Afterwards, the team's only head coach Graham James resigned to coach the Calgary Hitmen, but three seasons allegations arose that he sexually abused former player Sheldon Kennedy during their days together with the Broncos.

The Broncos play their home games at the Centennial Civic Centre.

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

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 In progress

Retired Numbers:

  • 8 Scott Krueger
  • 9 Brent Ruff
  • 11 Chris Mantyka
  • 22 Trent Kresse

Swift Current Broncos original logo.
Swift Current Broncos original logo.

Western Hockey League
Current teams : Brandon Wheat Kings | Calgary Hitmen | Chilliwack Bruins | Everett Silvertips | Kamloops Blazers | Kelowna Rockets | Kootenay Ice | Lethbridge Hurricanes | Medicine Hat Tigers | Moose Jaw Warriors | Portland Winter Hawks | Prince Albert Raiders | Prince George Cougars | Red Deer Rebels | Regina Pats | Saskatoon Blades | Seattle Thunderbirds | Spokane Chiefs | Swift Current Broncos | Tri-City Americans | Vancouver Giants
Expansion for 2007-08 : Edmonton Oil Kings
CHL: Memorial Cup | President's Cup | OHL | QMJHL | WHL
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