The Swift Current Broncos posted their first shutout of the season in earning a 6-0 win over the visiting Red Deer Rebels.
Broncos netminder Morgan Clark stopped all 37 shots he faced as the 19-year-old earned his third career shutout and he improved his season record to 17-12-0-1.
The Broncos last shutout a team back on Jan. 3, 2009 when they blanked the Lethbridge Hurricanes by a 6-0 count when Travis Yonkman stopped 23-shots. Saturday's shutout ends an 85-game stretch without a shutout.
Clark’s last shutout was back on March 1, 2008 as a member of the Red Deer Rebels when he made 28-saves in a 4-0 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Ironically, Clark’s first WHL shutout in a Red Deer uniform came when he stopped 27 shots while blanking the Broncos 4-0 back on Oct. 28, 2006.
Justin Dowling paced the Broncos attack with a hat trick performance, including a pair of goals 3:49 apart in the third period to reach the 25-goal mark. Dowling, 19, now has a pair of three goal efforts this season.
After a scoreless opening period, the Broncos broke the game open with four unanswered goals in the middle period, including a trio of markers 2:05 apart late in the period.
Cody Eakin is again tied for the league scoring lead after he notched his 38th goal of the season. Overage forward Michael Stickland opened the scoring with his 16th of the year at the mid point of the middle period. Dillon Wagner chipped in with his 15th of the season.
Rebels starting goaltender Darcy Kuemper gave up three goals on 18 shots in 37:16 of play to fall to 21-17-0-3. Kraymer Barnstable stopped 15 of 18 shots in a replacement appearance.
The win improves Swift Current’s record to 28-25-0-3 and to within one point of eighth place Moose Jaw in the Eastern Conference standings. Red Deer remains sixth in the Eastern Conference as they fall to 30-21-0-4.
Swift Current has won all three meetings versus Red Deer, with their last win a 3-2 shootout decision on Jan. 8. The teams conclude their season series in Red Deer on March 5.
