The Swift Current Broncos hockey club is getting ready for the 2018-2019 season in style. As well as adding new hockey staff, The Broncos have made a trade ahead of the season with the Edmonton Oil Kings. In a multi-player deal, Swift Current and Edmonton exchanged some young talent.
According to Shawn Mullin, in an interview with new Broncos head coach, Dean Brockman, Jacson Alexander had requested a trade and the Swift Current team granted his wish.
The Swift Current Broncos traded Alexander along with Chad Smithson and a sixth-round pick in the 2019 bantam draft to Edmonton in exchange for Matthew Culling, Chase Lacombe, a fourth-round pick in the 2019 bantam draft, and a second-round pick in the 2020 bantam draft.
Jacson Alexander, the 17 year old defenseman, is originally from Victoria, BC, and was traded to the Broncos last season. He played 32 regular season games, earning one goal and four assists throughout the regular season for Swift Current. He also played 26 post-season games with the club earning an assist during the Broncos run for the WHL championship win.
Chad Smithson was a 2016 pick for Swift Current, but had not yet signed on to play with the Broncos.
In return for Alexander, Smithson, and a pick, Swift Current has added some fresh young talent. Matthew Culling, the 17 year old forward from Regina, Sk, played five regular season games with the Edmonton Oil Kings last season.
Chase Lacombe, originally from Moose Jaw, Sk, played for the Moose Jaw Generals last season and has yet to make his WHL debut. In 42 regular season games with the Generals, the 16 year old defenseman notched one goal and one assist along with 14 penalty minutes.
Even though the Broncos lost a good player in Alexander, they’ve gained two young players with a lot of potential.
The Broncos will be starting the season without their top six forwards, top four defenceman and starting goalie from last year. Along with the roster changes, the Swift Current Broncos have rounded out their coaching staff which includes Dean Brockman as head coach, Brandin Cote as an assistant coach, and Scott Dutertre as another assistant coach, who are all now in Swift Current and ready for the season to begin.
Ryan Switzer had a chance to interview each of these new additions before the season started. Dean Brockman, in his interview with Ryan Switzer, talked about the Alexander trade and his experiences in the city of Swift Current so far.
There was a bit of nostalgia in Ryan Switzer’s interview with Brandin Cote as Cote explained his ties to Swift Current, playing for the Spokane Chiefs, and his credentials as an assistant coach for the Swift Current Broncos.
In his most recent interview with new assistant coach, Scott Dutertre, Ryan Switzer asks about Scott’s impressions of Swift Current, his credentials, and what Scott will bring to the team.
In each interview, all seem excited for the new season to start and excited to see where things will go. Much the same as the buzz around the Swift Current community.
The Broncos will be having a Blue vs. White game on August 30th that is open to the public. The pre-season starts on August 31st in Regina against the Pats and the Broncos will host a pre-season game on September 15th.
The regular season begins on Friday, September 21st in Swift Current as the Broncos host the Saskatoon Blades. The full pre-season and regular season schedule can be found on the Broncos website or WHL.ca.
