Tuesday

If you like reading, good. I haven't blogged for three days, and this post could go on for a while.... :)


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First off, than you so much for all the comments of sympathy and the supportive emails I received from blog readers and friends the past few days during what has been a very testing time for myself and family. Cancer took someone close to us suddenly at the young age of 29. HE dealt us a tough blow and it sure is devastating, but with His help we'll get through it as best we can like so many others have.  


Again, thanks for all the messages. It is VERY much appreciated. 


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Now to hockey....


I don't think anyone expected the Broncos to overcome a 3-0 first period deficit in Regina Saturday night.


I had a chance to watch the game courtesy WHL Web TV archives yesterday. Almost unexpectedly, the Broncos slipped back into it with Eakin's goal early in the second and then Dowling and Bobbee added singles to tie, with the 3-3 goal coming in the final minute of period two. They got some momentum when starting G Mark Friesen was replaced by Morgan Clark after three goals allowed. A mid-game goaltending change has been known to have that effect. Clark did a great job as well, stopping 31 Regina shots from the time he was given the nod. 


The Pats didn't play a bad game. In fact I think they played well enough or better to preserve the lead, but the Broncos' speed and quick transition seemed to burn them almost out of nowhere. The Pats allowed little space, but the Broncos needed little.   


What gets said about three-goal leads all the time? Are they "the worst lead in hockey," or is it the two-goal lead that fits that description? "No lead is safe," perhaps?   


Having said all of that, maybe the Broncos' rally was caused by what went on inside the dressing room between periods one and two. Sometimes when the going gets tough, guys start holding each other accountable in a serious sort of way. It's not a bad occurrence. Apparently that's what went down in Regina on Saturday.

The Broncos escaped with a 4-3 shootout win.

It'll be very interesting to see what transpires tomorrow when Swift Current hosts the cruising Kootenay Ice. Kootenay has won it's last 12 games coming in, but the Broncos were winners the last six times the two teams met. You guessed it..something's gotta give! 


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What about AAA Midget? I truly do not want to sound negative, but I can't say I've received much good Legionnaires news the past few days. 


Trent Winzer, Brett Penner, and Dayton Reinboldt were part of Team South in the SMAAAHL All Star game Saturday in Tisdale. Penner scored one while Reinboldt got an assist in a 9-7 North win. Winzer was kept off the scoresheet.

Otherwise, the news is mainly about injuries, and unfortunately they've been a big story for most of this season. In fact the Legionnaires, already short captain Dylan Balaski and Jordan Cleghorn, lost two more players to injury this past week. D Grayden Turner is now out with a broken wrist. The time of his return is undetermined. D Mason Logan sits with a torn MCL so he'll be gone for the rest of this season, or six weeks if the Legionnaires make playoffs or the Medicine Hat Tigers choose to call him up during their postseason run.  


Coupled with that were the team's two lopsided losses in P.A. this weekend, 9-3 and 7-1 respectively. 


Yes they can still make playoffs, but the margin is getting smaller and the line-up thinner. They're a great group of kids, but they'll have to dig deep down the stretch here. 


Coming up this Saturday night the team will travel to Saskatoon to face the Blazers, a club they have three more meetings with this season. The game will air live on the Legionnaires Broadcast Network.


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The Diamond Energy Wildcats are doing alright, and are sitting with a 11-7-2-1 record on the year. Their next home ice action is Friday, January 29 when they host Notre Dame at the i-Plex. 


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That's all for today....ciao.