The Swift Current Broncos dropped a 6-3 game to the Medicine Hat Tigers at the InnovationPlex Friday night.

The Tigers jumped out to an early lead, scoring twice in the opening 3:08 to take a 2-0 lead. The first was Andrew Basha redirecting a pass from the blue line past the glove of Joey Rocha, and then Hunter St. Martin firing a one timer off the rush under the blocker of Rocha off the rush.

Swift Current responded well to the early goals by scoring two quicks ones of their own. First was Rayan Bettahar firing a shot from the right circle past the blocker of James Venne to cut the lead in half. Maddix McCagherty and Karson King picked up assists.

Rylan Gould then tied the game when his shot from the left circle hit Venne, popped up into the air and landed behind the Tigers goaltender before rolling into the net. Sam Ward and Brady Birnie received assists on the goal.

Medicine Hat then responded with a quick goal of their own as Rhett Parsons’s long stretch pass was tipped by Basha to Oasiz Wiesblatt who had a breakaway from the Broncos blue line, beating Rocha through the five hole to put the Tigers up 3-2. They would take that lead into the first intermission.

Oren Shtrom added to the Tigers lead three minutes into the second period before Caleb Wyrostok scored on a partial breakaway to pull the Broncos within one just a minute and a half alter.

The score remained 4-3 until the final minute of the period when Cayden Lindstrom beat Rocha over the blocker off the rush, giving Medicine Hat the 5-3 advantage heading into the third period.

The Broncos had a stretch of three straight power plays in the third, but couldn’t capitalize to close the gap before Medicine Hat scored off a turnover to seal the 6-3 final.

The two teams meet Saturday night in Medicine Hat to wrap up the pre-season schedule.