By Scott Fisher /

Finding a member of the Swift Current Broncos who admits to being a curling fan might prove to be a difficult task these days.

After dropping the first two games in Brandon against the heavily-favoured Wheat Kings, the Broncos could have really used a boost from their home crowd.

But there was no true home game for the Broncos in the opening round of the post-season.

With the women’s world curling championship taking over Swift Current’s Credit Union i-plex, the Broncos were forced to play Games 3 and 4 in Regina.

Broncos bench boss Mark Lamb said his team will have to rely on itself to provide a spark.

“Usually, in the playoffs, you can change the momentum with home ice but we don’t have that option so we’re going to have to create it ourselves,” Lamb told the Regina Leader-Post. “The situation that we’re in, however you look at it, it isn’t very good because it’s not home ice.

“We have to create our own momentum, our own identity, our own everything. It isn’t up to the fans. It isn’t up to anyone (else). We’re kind of out there on an island. It’s all about us.”

Broncos forward Justin Dowling said his club was hoping to convert a few Pats fans, even if it was only for a week.

“We’re hoping to get a lot of Regina fans out,” Dowling told the Leader-Post. “I know they don’t like Brandon too much either. I’m hoping they’re going to trade sides and come to us and help get a nice atmosphere and create some energy in that rink. It’s a big rink and if there’s no one in there, it can get quiet.

“We’re going to get last change (for matching lines). It’s going to be an advantage for the on-ice situations, but off-ice, we’re still going to be in a hotel, we’re still going to be unfamiliar with our surroundings.
“We’re so used to playing in our environment. But we can’t use that as an excuse. We’re going to have to adopt and adapt and try to make it as home-like as possible.”

The deck seemed stacked firmly against the Broncos from the start as the Speedy Creek gang was missing forwards Dillon Wagner (knee) and Matt Tassone (neck) with injuries.

BRONCOS BITS
Forward Cody Eakin was the big winner at the Broncos year-end awards banquet. The Washington Capitals prospect took home five awards: MVP, top scorer, coach’s award, three stars, fan’s most popular. Other award winners included Derek Claffey (top defenceman, players’ most popular), Stepan Novotny (most sportsmanlike), Adam Lowry (rookie of the year, scholastic), Brad Hoban (most improved), Michael Stickland (leadership), Taylor Vause (humanitarian).