By Elizabeth Huber /

It is only a matter of time before Swift Current Broncos fans start getting the shakes — since Dec. 5 marked the last game the home crowd was able to cheer on the team for 
23 days.

With a less than desirable seven losses out of 13 away games this season, the Broncos have their work cut out for them as they take on the B.C squads.

Broncos d-man Eric Doyle, 19, said the guys are going to have to “kind of play a greasy (road) game, chipping pucks and doing some of the dirty things to get a win.”

With friends and family cheering them on at the rink, left-winger Geordie Wudrick, who grew up in Abbottsford, B.C., playing peewee hockey with teammate Joel Rogers, remembers scoring his first WHL goal against Chilliwack.

However, for the most part, road games allow the players to go into the game with a different mentality, said Wudrick.

“There is no one to impress out there … at home, you want to put on a show for the fans whether or not that is a good or bad mentality.”

Derek Claffey, the first Broncos player to be dubbed captain under the new monthly rotational basis, agreed.

“I think some guys feed off the home crowd. I am personally not one of them,” he said. “We just have to simplify our game and remember there is no one to impress out there.”

The western road trip is the only time the Broncos will take on their B.C. counterparts in the regular season. The trip will also mark the only meeting against the B.C. Division’s top team — the Vancouver Giants — on the Broncos’ second last stop.

“We have to know we are going against the top team,” said Rogers, adding that regardless of what team they are playing they have to go in prepared to win.

The coaching staff is working on making sure the players take the trip one day at a time, but is looking to take advantage of Vancouver and Kelowna when some of their key players are away at World Junior training camp.

“Our job is to keep the kids on task and in the moment so they don’t start looking ahead to the Christmas break and sugar plums and fairies,” said Tim Kehler, Broncos 
assistant coach.

As per the Broncos Dec. 2 injury report, blueliner Andrew Hewett was still out on a knee injury, centre Jordan Peddle is recovering from his concussion and pivot Cody Eakin is nursing an ankle injury.

Matt Tassone, 19, is leading the team through December wearing the ‘C’ as the Broncos play a total of two out of 11 games on home ice.

“Matt has been one of our most consistent players each night,” said Broncos GM/head coach Dean Chynoweth. “He competes and battles in areas that make teams successful and leads by example.”

Jan Dalecky, Claffey and Doyle are the assistant captains when the Broncos wear their white or grey jerseys. Keegan Dansereau, Claffey and Eakin are the assistant captains when the Broncos are skating in black.