Broncos Head For RD / Legionnaires Back At It This Weekend

Friday is almost upon us! It was a tough week to work through with all the holidays ending abruptly last Sunday, but I think we can do it! One more day.....

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The Broncos took off for Red Deer this afternoon, where they'll face the Rebels tomorrow to kick off a two-game Alberta weekend. They'll conclude it in Edmonton on Saturday.

The Rebs lost 4-2 in Swift Current back on October 4/09 in the teams' only meeting this season. They were around or on the .500 mark until December, when they started picking it up and now find themselves six games above .500.

They missed the playoffs in three of the past four seasons. It's safe to say that after two consecutive years of missing the postseason, the faithful Red Deer fan base was expecting more when this one kicked off. If you've been keeping tabs on Red Deer media, a Rebels playoff appearance this year has never really been in doubt. And as it stands now they appear well on their way there, sitting in sixth place in the conference.

But Red Deer is not out of the woods yet. There are still only six points separating 5th from 9th place in the conference, so they'll have to keep winning consistently.

So the Broncos will have their hands full at the Enmax Centrium tomorrow evening.

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In Midget AAA news, the Swift Current Legionnaires will kick off the remaining third of their schedule with two games in Tisdale this weekend after 3 1/2 weeks of Christmas break.

The Trojans are a competitive bunch. Expect no different this time around. Every year they seem to find a way to mire themselves comfortably in a playoff spot.

Personally, I'm really looking forward to seeing the town and it's hockey fans, and calling the play-by-play of two games from there. Word is they have the best fans around the SMAAAHL, because it's the highest level of hockey in town. Also, former Legionnaires D Tyler Bird plays on their team and I'm looking forward to chatting with him again. We were good friends when he was here.

The Legionnaires will get some help on the blue line with the return of D Brandon Pratt. He's been out with a knee injury since way back in October. Captain Dylan Balaski won't be playing due to the concussion sustained in Regina just prior to Christmas. It is also not apparent that G Jay Hudon will be returning from the SJHL's Melfort Mustangs. So expect Saskatoonian Lukas MacDonald to be handed the ball between the pipes for the rest of the season, possibly getting a few games off in favour of a call-up goaltender. 

Colton Heffley was in Kelowna the past week and a half playing his 15 year-old limit of five games with the injury depleted Rockets. He flew back to Saskatchewan today and will play in Tisdale. Hopefully I can catch up with Colton and run an intermission interview. We'll talk about his WHL experience among other things.

As for the standings, the Legionnaires sit nine points out of a playoff spot. The two teams above them, Moose Jaw and Tisdale are tied for points with 30. But Moose Jaw has three games in hand on Swift Current and Tisdale has five. So the Legions making the postseason is becoming a stretch, especially given the fact they have 10 road games remaining and only four at home. But if they piece a good run together anything could happen. Until a team is mathematically eliminated the sights are always set on playoffs.

Both games can be heard on the Legionnaires Broadcast Network with the pre-game show on Saturday starting at 7:50 PM.