Gameday

Gameday in Red Deer as the team takes in some downtime before the 3pm pre-game meal at East Side Marios. It's a 7:30pm Broncos/Rebels face-off from the Centrium.

A lot has transpired since my last post. Here's a quick recap:

- Levi Nelson is the lone Bronco named to Team WHL for the Canada/Russia ADT Challenge series which will see games in Medicine Hat and Kootenay at the end of November. The game is more than a Canada/Russia clash, it's also an audition for these players in their attempt to get an invite to the World Junior selection camp. He is set to make his return to the line-up tonight after sitting out the last week with a leg injury.

Wouldn't it be good to have one of these games at the I-plex? It's coming. Apparently it was offered by the WHL this year but knowing the renovations would not be ready, the team had to decline. Hopefully the offer is still on the table for next season.

- Broncos 1st round bantam pick from this summer Christian Magnus will make his Broncos debut tonight in Red Deer. The 15 year-old out of Saskatoon had an impressive training camp. He's playing this season for the Saskatoon Blazers of the Sask. "AAA" midget league. I'm eager to see him play for a glimpse into the future.

- The Broncos have had a recent run of injuries at the forward spot. Not sure who is in and who is out yet. Some of the players could be game-time decisions. You'll have to catch tonight's pre-game show to get the latest. It starts at 7pm.

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I was told the Bronco lines will look a little different tonight. They are breaking up the Dansereau-Smith-Felde line for the time being as they look for a little more scoring balance. Some of the younger players like Cody Eakin and Brad Hoban may take on a more prominent role with their recent performance.

The Rebels play the first of three games this weekend. They also have a home and home with Lethbridge before all is said and done. They also get 20 year-old J.D. Watt back tonight after serving his six game suspension for his high hit on Saskatoon's Teigan Zahn.

The Broncos didn't have a lot of success in Red Deer last season dropping both games and being shutout in one of them. They will look to put the brakes on this mini three-game slide. The Rebels haven't played their best on home ice. With limited offense in their barn they are 1-5 so far. Their only home ice win coming against the Edmonton Oil Kings in a shootout.

We should see a little bit of support for the Broncos tonight in Red Deer. It will no doubt be cut in half with the departure of Paul Postma to the Calgary Hitmen. The Postma clan routinely filled a section when the Broncos were in town, and they were loud. With Derek Claffey a Red Deer native and several Calgary players there should still be a lot of Bronco colored jerseys in the stands of the Centrium. I have not heard of any fans making the weekend trip from Swifty.

The Riders are in action tonight too... just up the road in Edmonton. The Broncos head North following tonight's game in preparation for tomorrow night's game against the Oil Kings.

Have a great weekend,
Jon