86 players will be taking to the ice in Swift Current with the training camp starting this coming Sunday. We took some time to break down this year’s team as it enters camp with Broncos head coach and director of hockey operations Dean Brockman.
Building towards the future
Now in his second season with Swift Current, Brockman and his young group will be looking to build off an 11-51-4-2 season that came after the team went all-in to win the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL champions in 2018.
Brockman is looking to take it one step at a time as he tries to get the franchise back to the top of their cycle. The former bench boss for the Saskatoon Blades is just looking to continue growing through his young group that got a lot of experience last season as the Broncos traded away many of their older players.
“Some of our guys that did not have a lot of experience in our league got some last season. You hope they have had big and better summers. Just getting that year older and continuity in the coaching staff. I guess there are a lot of things that could get this season off to a better start than last season,” Brockman said.
Brockman knows last year was the start of a long process to get back to the top of the cycle, but he expects to add to that win total.
“Our expectations are to be more competitive. There were times last year where we weren’t and we knew it. We have to find some consistency, and that will come within the group as they get older and more familiar with the league,” Brockman said.
The head coach was realistic in his overall expectations.
“We go into every game wanting to win. I think there’s more of an opportunity to do that this year. We are not challenging for a league title or anything of that nature, but we want to make it difficult on every team that we play and have a chance to win. As far as the GM duties, we are still going to try to acquire assets. We think the ‘04 draft was good, and we feel comfortable with that. Now we have to follow that up with another draft. Whether we continue to acquire picks or player prospects, we are still in an early phase of a long rebuild,” he added.
With the Broncos trading away many young players and high draft picks to get the assets needed to win the league title, Brockman knew the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft was a good chance for his team to restock the cupboards. They were able to get more picks by trading away players like Joel Hofer, Jacson Alexander, and Kaden Elder.
“We are really comfortable with what we got (in the 2019 draft). It was to kind of set that future up a bit. You have to build through the draft in this league. I think it’s important you do that.”
The Broncos took two guys in the first round and five in the first three rounds.
“Getting Juggy (Tyson Jugnauth) and (Mathew) Ward and all those kids… We don’t take any pick lightly. I think even our last pick in (Owen) Pickering, we think he can play. All those guys are going to have a great opportunity, especially since our prospect pool is a little thin,” Brockman relayed.
Overagers with character
When you are not expecting to win it all, you can look at your overage group with a different mindset. The character and personality for each of the three 1999-born players allowed on the roster is key for Brockman.
One player who finished last season with the Broncos, but will not be back, is forward Ian Briscoe, who had 11 points in 50 games last season with Swift Current.
“Briscoe is not returning so that leaves us with two. We are bringing Zach Cox into camp. We do not want to settle on just having average 20’s. But we think the character with our 20’s with (Jake) Kustra and (Ethan) O’Rourke (is important).”
Brockman acquired Kustra from the Victoria Royals via waivers.
“Having Jake when I did in Saskatoon, he had his most successful year as an 18-year-old. He’s just going to bring another element to our team. The dressing room won’t be as quiet. He’s a great leader.”
O’Rourke, meanwhile, returns to the Broncos after putting up 20 points in 67 games last season.
“Ethan is just a tremendous person. When you try and create some culture, you want to have some older guys that are going to be ’stand by guys’ that are going to stand by the coaches and adhere to what they are doing. Then the younger guys can learn from that,” Brockman said.
Zach Cox, who is a right wing that played 124 regular season and 22 playoff games over the past two seasons with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, could come in and bring some proven offense.
“We know when you play on good teams and are surrounded by good players you are there for a reason. He was in Lethbridge last year and he had 11 goals. He’s another veteran and we know his character is really good and strong. I think that’s important when you want to do things the way you want to do them.”
Brockman is always aware of what is out there, though, and while he likes the three overagers in camp, there could be some additions or subtractions, depending.
“We are not settled on those three, and we may do some different things, but right now those are the guys and they will help us along, I’m sure.”
Younger players who will be leaned on
Breaking down the other returning players to the roster, Brockman stated that he is expecting big things out of some young players. One such player is 17-year-old forward Ben King, who put up 26 points in his rookie season.
“Benny was great for us. He just brings that skill element at this level. He showed, as a 16-year-old, he can play with the big guys. Unfortunately, he had that injury, but he got a good test of it. It’s his draft year so we want to surround him with as many good players as we can. You are going to see a bigger and stronger Ben King this year, and he’s going to take charge.”
2000-born forward Ethan Regnier broke out last season in a much bigger role. He and Connor Horning were the two players who played significant minutes on and remained from the 2018 WHL championship team.
“Ethan had a great offseason. Just mentally getting through the league and being a guy who can play a lot of situations. He just blossomed for us.”
Meanwhile, Horning, who may have played more than any other 17-year-old d-man in the league, is expected to come in and take another big step.
“With Connor, we extended him a bit, playing him in a lot of different situations and a lot of minutes. He probably got tired as the season got on. It gives him a great taste of what the season will be like for him. We have added Kustra and Kasper Puutio. That should give him a bit more insulation and a little more freedom to so some things. We are excited for those guys, and we are hoping they have big years for us.”
Brockman and the Broncos took Puutio in the CHL Import Draft, meaning yet another Finnish player is headed to Swift Current.
“There’s kind of a Finnish pipeline to Swift Current, and this just continues that. The biggest thing for us is that A) he’s going to be a real good player, and B) he wanted to come to Swift Current and signed with us. He brings a professional approach to the rink all the time.”
Puutio joins fellow Finn Joona Kiviniemi, a 2001-born forward who had 16 goals a season ago.
“He’s another draft eligible guy. He’s got a late birthdate in December, so he didn’t turn 17 until late in the year, so he’s now draft eligible as well. Another guy who blossomed as the year went on. He’s got more pedigree and certainly it’s an adjustment coming over to a new league.”
A duo in net
After the Broncos traded away Hofer, they leaned on 2001-born goalie Isaac Poulter. He returns now with more expected from him, but he is not alone. Swift Current brought in 2002-born netminder Jordan Fairlie, and they expect the two of them to share duties in net.
“Fairlie and Isaac are going to share the reins there a little bit. For Isaac, he’s in a different role with him being the guy. We will have to monitor that fairly closely. We like both kids a lot. They both have a lot of potential to be really good.”
A new division?
With the Kootenay ICE moving to Winnipeg, Swift Current was moved to the Central Division. This new division will be a challenge for Brockman’s team.
“It’s not a great time to be coming into this division, because every team probably has a chance to win the league. You’ve got Edmonton who went on that long run last season. Calgary took huge strides and will be an older team. Lethbridge still has lots of really good players. Red Deer is always competitive and hard to play against. You’ve got Willie in Medicine Hat, who is going to revive that a little bit there. Overall, it’s a really tough division, but I think that’s a good challenge for us and our younger guys to play against and beat that,” Brockman said.
Sunday will be the first step in the 2019-20 season for Brockman and the Broncos. They look to continue their rebuild with their best days still in front of them. Some of those days could come earlier than expected.
