Glenn Gawdin scored on an overtime power play as the Swift Current Broncos beat the BC Division leading Victoria Royals 3-2.

The Royals had frustrated Swift Current's top line throughout the game nearly holding them off the score-sheet for the first time this season.

Aleksi Heponiemi set the winner up skating behind the Royals net causing the defenders to cheat for a wrap-around and sliding it back short side for Gawdin and a wide open net. It was the Swift Current captain's 20th of the season.

“Pretty exciting game,” said Broncos associate coach Ryan Smith. “We started off really well. We got a couple goals from secondary guys that we were looking for so great start. They slowly kept it close and got a couple power play goals. It was a good hockey game.”

The Broncos got some much needed secondary scoring in a strong first period. Ethan Regnier struck for his first career WHL goal when his shot deflected in off a Royals defenceman.

“I just got the puck on the outside off a bounce in the middle,” Regnier said. “I shot it and I didn't even see it but I heard it went off someone's face and into the net. Take it any way you can I guess.”

Kole Gable then fired a wrist shot through the five-hole of Royals netminder Griffen Outhouse on the power play. It was a rare second unit power play goal for Swift Current that came off a simple play with traffic.

“We were just first to pucks and dictated the play,” Smith said. “I like the fact that our second and third lines made some plays. The second unit scored on the power play they don't see much ice so they get it on net and Gable gets a goal. There were lots of positives there.”

The Broncos felt like they had strong play from their depth in back-to-back games. Regnier himself had three or four good chances on an active third line with Logan Barlage and MacKenzie Wight.

“Just getting shots on net,” Regnier said. “Creating what we can, being good defensively, hitting, getting it deep and tonight we got rewarded and some went in... When the first one went in I got a bit of confidence. The puck was coming out to me, my linemates were doing a good job, everyone was great tonight... good game.”

It's a good sign for Swift Current as the Broncos have been relying heavily on their top line of Gawdin, Heponiemi and Tyler Steenbergen all season. Now as they wait for newly acquired snipers Matteo Gennaro and Beck Malenstyn to make their debuts, they are starting to see improvement throughout the lineup.

“Slowly but surely some guys are finding their way,” Smith said. “We're 25 games in and starting to see the upside of some of these guys. These are the guys that need to step up and play when our top line... they had the biggest goal of the night, but they were shut down tonight so you need that and good teams find a way.”

The Royals were able to claw back even with a couple of power play goals in the second and third. Otherwise it was a well played game defensively and from both goaltenders before they hit overtime.

The Royals were the first team to hold Swift Current's top line without a point in regulation so far this season.

“They're physical,” Smith said. “They're the top line in the league so you have to check them. If you don't check them they will pick you apart. They were on top of them with stick on puck. They took a way a lot of stuff they like to do. They were physical and they rattled their cage. It wasn't like they were terrible, but it was one of those games that didn't go in for them. Victoria full credit they played a hard game against them.”

They couldn't hold them off completely as Gawdin struck in overtime for the victory. Kaden Elder drew that OT power play with some hard work to win possession of the puck in his own zone before taking a hit from behind by Tyler Soy.

Soy's third period goal elevated him to top spot in Victoria's all-time points list.

Logan Flodell made 35 saves as the Broncos moved to 18-5-2-0 on the season and 3 points behind Moose Jaw for top spot in the WHL Eastern Conference. Outhouse stopped 36 of 39 Broncos shots as the Royals dropped to 18-9-2-0.

Swift Current was missing both of their recent additions from Calgary as Gennaro was attending to a personal matter in Calgary, while Malenstyn is still out of action with an upper body injury. The Broncos expect to have Gennaro in the lineup this weekend. Malenstyn is still ten days to two weeks away.

That was Swift Current's 5th trip to overtime in their last 6 games. Heponiemi extended his points streak to 17 games.

Swift Current plays a home and home with Moose Jaw on the weekend. They visit the Warriors on Friday before hosting them Saturday night in a re-match of last season's hotly contested playoff series.