Breaking Down the Eastern Conference

This is the topic tonight on the Broncos pre-game show as we look at the remaining schedule and important games for the eight playoff bound teams in the Eastern Conference

Here's a transcript of the feature which airs at 7pm before the Broncos and Kootenay Ice at 7:30pm.
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The five minute major is brought to you by B and A petroleum, your local Petro Canada bulk fuel agent.

It's ultra tight in the Eastern conference with four weeks to play in the regular season.
Eight teams in the conference still haven't settled anything except distancing themselves from the likes of Edmonton, Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Red Deer.

The eight teams could all have officially clinched a playoff spot by the end of tonight...

So in an effort to learn more of where the teams may finish, we take a look at what the teams have left to close off the regular season.

Moose Jaw sits 8th in the conference but may have the best schedule remaining of the teams. with 14 games left, the Warriors are poised to climb out of the final position and still contend for a division title with Regina - who they trail by six points with three games in hand.

The Warriors have nine home games remaining and five on the road. Three games remain against the Broncos, two with Brandon. Three of their 14 are against non-playoff contending teams.

The Warriors are in good shape and will only move up the standings.

The Brandon Wheat Kings are 7th in the conference, one point ahead of Moose Jaw and one back of the Broncos. The Wheat Kings have 13 games left. Nine of those games are at home while four are on the road.

The Wheaties still have two games left with Moose Jaw and two with Regina which they close off the season against in a home and home set.

The Wheat Kings, like the Broncos, open up a six game homestand tonight.

With all this considered, Brandon has only been a .500 team in the 2nd half posting a record of 11-11-2-1.

The Broncos sit 6th in the conference and only have 11 games remaining. They begin their longest homestand of the season tonight as they spend their next six games at the Credit Union i-plex.

We asked Head Coach and GM Dean Chynoweth this week on the remaining schedule.

"It's busy into March and leading into playoffs but that's good. I think we should be healthy and you hope to stay that way through playoffs. I like the schedule and the way it lays out. This homestand is real important as to where we'll finish."

The Broncos have three remaining games with Moose Jaw, two with Lethbridge and two with the Kootenay Ice.

The Medicine Hat Tigers occupy 5th place in the conference and will visit the Broncos Friday night in the last head-to-head meeting of the season.

The Tigers have 12 games left and a very interesting schedule. 8 of the 12 games left are on the road, but six of those 12 games are against non-playoff contending teams like Edmonton, Saskatoon, Red Deer and Prince Albert. The Tigers still have a pair of games left with Calgary and Lethbridge - the top two teams in the conference.

The Kootenay Ice enter tonight's game sitting fourth in the conference - one point better than the Medicine Hat Tigers. The Ice have 11 games remaining. six home games and five on the road.

Only two of their last 11 games are against non-playoff contending teams. Kootenay's schedule has some tough games, including the Broncos, Brandon, Moose Jaw, Tri City, Lethbridge and Calgary twice to close off the regular season.

The Lethbridge Hurricanes have been one of the best teams lately as they occupy third spot despite having more points than the east division leading Regina Pats in the 2nd seed.

The Hurricanes have their eyes set on the Calgary Hitmen and the number one seed in the conference heading into playoffs.

With 13 games remaining and four games in hand with Calgary, the 'Canes trail the top seed by 9 points.

The Hurricanes are 10-2 in their last 12 games. Six of the remaining 13 games are against non-playoff contending teams. Lethbridge will be road warriors to close off the season playing 9 of their last 13 games on the road.

The 'Canes biggest remaining game will be against Calgary March 9th at the Saddledome.


The Regina Pats have 11 games remaining with a four point lead over the Broncos for the east division lead. Six of the remaining games are at home in the Brandt Center, five are on the road.

The Pats play five non-playoff contending teams and will close off the season with a big home and home series with Brandon. A key game March 12th against the Moose Jaw Warriors will also be circled on the Pats' calendar.

The Pats are 4-5-0-1 in their last 10 games. It allowed Swift Current, Brandon and Moose Jaw an opportunity to contend for the division title.

Finally, the Calgary Hitmen lead the conference with 43 wins and 90 points. The Hitmen have the fewest games remaining of the playoff bound teams with nine.

Three of those nine games are at home while six will be on the road. The Hitmen still play Medicine Hat and Kootenay twice.

The Hitmen can all but secure first place with a win over Lethbridge in that March 9th game.

Enjoy the final four weeks before playoffs....

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For those who have called or e-mailed regarding the recent internet streaming broadcast problems I apologize for our technical difficulties. There seemed to have been a problem at both the radio station and the Broncos website. It has since been looked after.

For thos out of town the game is available online at http://www.scbroncos.com/ or from the League website at http://www.whl.ca/ under "radio broadcasts". You can also visit the internet providers website at http://www.t2.net/ .

Jon