Swift Current Broncos 2021-22 roster breakdown
The 2021-22 Western Hockey League season gets underway Friday night, and the Swift Current Broncos have set their opening-night roster.
The roster includes 19 returning players from the 24-game Hub season in Regina and 13 players who were drafted in the WHL Prospects Draft by the Broncos. That continues a trend of more Broncos draft picks on the roster over the past three seasons as nine were on the team’s Hub roster while just one finished the 2019-20 season with the team, goaltender Isaac Poulter.
The current roster includes four 20-year-olds, five 19-year-olds, four 18-year-olds, eight 17-year-olds and three 16-year-olds.
Below is a breakdown of the 25 players Broncos fans will see in action on this season.
Forwards
Cole Nagy
| Year | 2020-21 Stats | 2020-21 Team | Acquired | Hometown |
| 2001 | 7-9-16 in 23 GP | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) | Trade from PA | Saskatoon, SK |
Nagy brought his game to another level during the 2020-21 season, finishing fourth in team scoring with 16 points while sitting sixth in the WHL for faceoff percentage amongst centres with more than 400 faceoffs (55.9%). The 6’6”, right-shot centre looks to improve on both of those numbers in his 20-year-old season.
Aiden Bulych
| Year | 2020-21 Stats | 2020-21 Team | Acquired | Hometown |
| 2001 | 6-11-17 in 23 GP | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) | Signed as free agent | Foam Lake, SK |
Bulych ramped up his offensive production during the 2020-21 season by recording 0.74 points per game, more than double his 0.35 points-per-game pace from his rookie season in 2019-20. In addition to providing regular offence, Bulych was also the only Broncos skater who wore a letter on his jersey in every game in 2020-21, serving as a full-time alternate captain.
Jordan Boryisuk
| Year | 2020-21 Stats | 2020-21 Team | Acquired | Hometown |
| 2002 | 2-3-5 in 19 GP | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) | Trade from RD | Mannville, AB |
After missing nearly the entire 2019-20 season due to a nagging injury, Borysiuk was fully healthy for the 2020-21 season and provided the Broncos with some depth offence throughout the course of the year. Another year under his belt, Borysiuk will look to provide more of the same in 2021-22.
Raphael Pelletier
| Year | 2020-21 Stats | 2020-21 Team | Acquired | Hometown |
| 2002 | 4-5-9 in 15 GP | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) | Trade from EDM | Legal, AB |
Pelletier’s offence improved immensely during his second season in the WHL as he surpassed his point totals from 2019-20 in 34 fewer games. Sidelined with an injury for nine games during 2020-21, Pelletier is poised to be a regular contributor up front for the Broncos in 2021-22.
Carter Stebbings
| Year | 2020-21 Stats | 2020-21 Team | Acquired | Hometown |
| 2002 | 4-5-9 in 15 GP | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) | Signed as free agent | Saskatoon, SK |
An 18-year-old rookie in 2020-21, Stebbings was a welcome addition to the Broncos roster by providing steady secondary offence. Much like Pelletier, Stebbings was sidelined with an injury during 2020-21 and missed a number of games, but will look to build off what he provided last season.
Caleb Wyrostok
| Year | 2020-21 Stats | 2020-21 Team | Acquired | Hometown |
| 2003 | 5-6-11 in 22 GP | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) | 2018 Draft (Rd 9, 197) | Medicine Hat, AB |
A ninth-round steal in 2018, Wyrostok adjusted to the WHL smoothly with 11 points in 22 games in 2020-21. The Medicine Hat native combines offensive skill with an in-your-face style of game, regularly agitating his opponents in an effort to draw penalties.
Braeden Lewis
| Year | 2020-21 Stats | 2020-21 Team | Acquired | Hometown |
| 2003 | 2-4-6 in 19 GP | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) | 2018 Draft (Rd 6, 114) | Virden, MB |
Lewis had a solid rookie season in the WHL, providing the Broncos with steady depth scoring while filling any role asked of him. With the Broncos back end depleted due to injury, Lewis even filled in on the blue line for one night.
Carter Halamandaris
| Year | 2020-21 Stats | 2020-21 Team | Acquired | Hometown |
| 2003 | 0-2-2 in 16 GP | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) | Trade from EVT | Winnipeg, MB |
Halamandaris will look to provide some offence for the Swift Current Broncos in 2021-22, something he’s been known to do. In 2019-20 with the U18 Winnipeg Wild, Halamandaris recorded 55 points in 41 games, including 31 goals. His 31 goals ranked fifth in the league while his 55 points were 13th.
Mathew Ward
| Year | 2020-21 Stats | 2020-21 Team | Acquired | Hometown |
| 2004 | 6-16-22 in 23 GP | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) | 2019 Draft (Rd 1, 14) | Kamloops, BC |
Ward came as advertised for the Broncos in 2020-21, finishing second in team scoring with 22 points in 23 games and capturing the team’s Rookie of the Year award. Drafted 14th overall in 2019, Ward brings high-end offensive talent to the Broncos roster, something that had been missing the two seasons prior. He carried that momentum through the 2021 preseason by scoring six points in four games.
Josh Davies
| Year | 2020-21 Stats | 2020-21 Team | Acquired | Hometown |
| 2004 | 6-3-9 in 20 GP | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) | 2019 Draft (Rd 3, 54) | Airdrie, AB |
A dynamic combination of speed and strength, Davies might not intimidate opponents with his 5’10” stature, but his physicality on the ice speaks for itself. Whether it’s using his break-neck speed, heavy wrist shot or slamming opposing players into the boards, Davies can impact the game in a number of different ways.
Josh Filmon
| Year | 2020-21 Stats | 2020-21 Team | Acquired | Hometown |
| 2004 | 2-0-2 in 17 GP | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) | 2019 Draft (Rd 4, 67) | Winnipeg, MB |
If his pre-season play is any indication, Filmon is ready to become an impact player for the Broncos in 2021-22. After two goals in 17 games during the Hub season, Filmon burst out of the gates with three goals and an assist in four pre-season games.
Karson King
| Year | 2020-21 Stats | 2020-21 Team | Acquired | Hometown |
| 2004 | 0-1-1 in 1 GP | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) | 2019 Draft (Rd 6, 111) | Warren, MB |
Joining the Broncos halfway through the Hub season, King practiced with the team everyday and was inserted into the lineup for the final game of the season. King made the most of the opportunity, picking up an assist in his first WHL game. The 6’1”, 220-pound King will look to use his size and heavy shot in his first full WHL season.
Connor Hvidston
| Year | 2020-21 Stats | 2020-21 Team | Acquired | Hometown |
| 2004 | 6-6-12 in 7 GP | Yorkton Maulers (SMAAAHL) | 2019 Draft (Rd 7, 133) | Tisdale, SK |
A late pick in the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft, Hvidston has the makings of becoming a steal. Playing for the Yorkton Maulers in 2019-20, a team that finished the season with a 3-40-1 record, Hvidston led the team in scoring with 14 goals and 14 assists in 43 games. For his efforts he was named the Maulers Top Forward, Top Rookie, Leading Scorer and Team MVP. He followed that up with 12 points in just seven games to begin the 2020-21 season before the SMAAAHL season was cancelled.
Brady Birnie
| Year | 2020-21 Stats | 2020-21 Team | Acquired | Hometown |
| 2005 | 0-0-0 in 4 GP | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) | 2020 Draft (Rd 1, 21) | Regina, SK |
Birnie suited up for four games during the Hub season, getting his feet wet as a 15-year-old in the WHL. Now a full-time WHL player, Birnie hopes to provide regular offence for the Broncos in 2021-22 after lighting the Saskatchewan U15 league on fire with 128 points in just 31 games in 2019-20.
Rylan Gould
| Year | 2020-21 Stats | 2020-21 Team | Acquired | Hometown |
| 2005 | 1-2-3 in 2 GP | Winnipeg Wild (MU18HL) | 2020 Draft (Rd 2, 42) | Headingly, MB |
Gould makes the jump to the WHL after being selected by the Broncos with the 42nd overall pick in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft. Serving as the Winnipeg Monarch’s captain in 2019-20, Gould led by example with 86 points in 36 games before adding 20 points in 10 playoff games. He scored in the Broncos pre-season finale against the Medicine Hat Tigers on Saturday, September 25.
Defenceman
Rylan Thiessen
| Year | 2020-21 Stats | 2020-21 Team | Acquired | Hometown |
| 2001 | 1-6-7 in 17 GP | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) | Trade with BDN | Brandon, MB |
Acquired from the Brandon Wheat Kings over the summer, Thiessen brings some leadership to the Broncos blueline with the graduations of Kaleb Bulych and Owen Williams. A veteran player on a young team, Thiessen will be leaned on to provide leadership both on and off the ice while playing lots of minutes each night.
Sam McGinley
| Year | 2020-21 Stats | 2020-21 Team | Acquired | Hometown |
| 2002 | 1-5-6 in 22 GP | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) | Trade from REG | Calgary, AB |
For the second year in a row McGinley was named the Broncos Most Improved Player following the 2020-21 season. Playing in all situations, McGinley has earned the trust of the coaching staff to provide offence or shutdown opposing players. The St. Louis Blues took notice as well, inviting him to their rookie camp earlier in September.
Noah Lamb
| Year | 2020-21 Stats | 2020-21 Team | Acquired | Hometown |
| 2002 | 0-2-2 in 6 GP | Victoria Royals (WHL) | Trade from VIC | Camrose, AB |
Another off-season acquisition by the Broncos, Lamb brings his physical style of play to the Broncos blue line. It was clear throughout training camp and the Broncos pre-season games that Lamb won’t be making many friends on the ice as he vigorously defends the front of his net.
Chase Lacombe
| Year | 2020-21 Stats | 2020-21 Team | Acquired | Hometown |
| 2002 | 0-1-1 in 13 GP | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) | Trade from EDM | Moose Jaw, SK |
Joining the Broncos part way through the Hub season, Lacombe helped the Broncos blue line which was decimated by injuries during the 24-game season. Filling whatever role is asked of him, Lacombe keeps things simple on the ice and provides physicality when needed.
Daylan Weigel
| Year | 2020-21 Stats | 2020-21 Team | Acquired | Hometown |
| 2003 | 0-1-1 in 4 GP | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) | Trade from REG | Warman, SK |
An injury unfortunately limited Weigel’s first WHL season to just four games before he had to leave the Regina Hub to return home. Much like Noah Lamb, Weigel’s game centres around being strong defensively and preventing goals, rather than scoring them.
Owen Pickering
| Year | 2020-21 Stats | 2020-21 Team | Acquired | Hometown |
| 2004 | 2-7-9 in 23 GP | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) | 2019 Draft (Rd 9, 177) | St. Adolphe, MB |
Despite just 23 WHL games under his belt, Pickering as clearly cemented himself as a late-round steal. Drafted 177th overall in 2019, Pickering made the jump to the WHL look as smooth as can be in the Regina Hub finding himself firmly in the Broncos top-4 after just a handful of games. His on-ice talents continue to grow at the same rate as his height, as Pickering as gone from 5’7” at the beginning of 2018-19 to now standing at 6’5”.
Rayan Bettahar
| Year | 2020-21 Stats | 2020-21 Team | Acquired | Hometown |
| 2004 | 0-1-1 in 3 GP | Jungadler Mannheim U20 | 2021 CHL Import (5th) | Nowy Targ, Poland |
Drafted with the fifth overall pick in the 2021 CHL Import Draft, Bettahar arrives in Swift Current after representing Germany on the international stage at both the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup and World U-18 Championships. A self-described two-way defenceman, Bettahar showcased his smooth skating and offensive instincts while suiting up for all four pre-season games.
Grayson Burzynski
| Year | 2020-21 Stats | 2020-21 Team | Acquired | Hometown |
| 2005 | 0-0-0 in 3 GP | Winnipeg Wild (MU18HL) | 2020 Draft (Rd 2, 44th) | Winnipeg, MB |
Burzynski won’t turn 17 until June of 2022 but he already has WHL size standing at 6’3” and weighing in at 211 pounds. In addition to his stature, Burzynski also brings offence from the blue line as he led the Manitoba U15 league in scoring in 2019-20 with 58 points in 36 games.
Goaltenders
Isaac Poulter
| Year | 2020-21 Stats | 2020-21 Team | Acquired | Hometown |
| 2001 | 3-12-1-0 4.41, .879 | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) | 2016 Draft (Rd 6, 112) | Winnipeg, MB |
For the second year in a row Poulter was the clear choice as the Broncos Team MVP for his performance during the 24-game Hub season. Not only did he give the Broncos a legitimate chance to win each night, he worked himself up the Broncos history books in two categories. He now sits fifth all time in career saves with 2,963 and eighth all time in career minutes played. He needs 284 saves to surpass Trevor Kruger and just 168 minutes to pass Aaron MacDonald.
Reid Dyck
| Year | 2020-21 Stats | 2020-21 Team | Acquired | Hometown |
| 2004 | 3-4-1 4.10, .881 | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) | 2019 Draft (Rd 3, 45) | Winkler, MB |
Dyck became the first 16-year-old, full-time goalie for the Swift Current Broncos since Kyle Moir in 2002-03 when he joined the team in the Regina Hub. After a stellar U18 season with the Pembina Valley Hawks in 2019-20, Dyck was recognized by Hockey Canada and invited to both their virtual Pursuit of Excellence Goaltending camp and the U-17 virtual camp in the summer of 2020.
