Swift Current Broncos re-acquire Blocker, Stanley in separate moves

The Swift Current Broncos are bringing a pair of familiar faces back to their organization.

After January 2018 trade sent the pair to the Lethbridge Hurricanes, the Broncos have re-acquired both Matt Stanley and Owen Blocker in a pair of separate moves, which they confirmed Wednesday afternoon.

The first move was announcing that Stanley, a 20-year-old defenceman is back for his second stint in Swift Current after being claimed off waivers from the Lethbridge Hurricanes. A 6-foot-2, 185-pound product of Balmoral, Man., was originally selected in the 12th round, 248th overall, of the 2013 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.

The third-last selection in that year’s draft, Stanley has provided incredible value to the Broncos, playing 126 WHL regular season games to date, 91 of which came with the Broncos. He was involved in last season’s blockbuster trade that saw the Broncos acquire Stuart Skinner and Giorgio Estephan on the way to winning the Ed Chynoweth Cup, heading the other way. In those 126 games, Stanley has 12 points (2G-10A), including a game-winning goal with the Hurricanes last season.
Stanley’s acquisition gives the Broncos five overage players.

Being a part of the Broncos and Hurricanes respectively over the past few seasons, Stanley has appeared in 30 career WHL Playoff games, recording four points (2G-2A),

Bringing Blocker back to the Broncos required a trade to take place, with an eight-round selection in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft heading the other way.

The forward 6-foot-2, 200-pound forward from Oakbank, Man. was originally selected in the second round, 32nd overall, in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. Since then, he’s appeared in 103 career WHL Regular Season games, posting eight points (2G-6A). He’s also appeared in 16 career WHL Playoff games, all with the Hurricanes, recording three assists. His first career WHL goal came last season while with the Broncos, counting for the game-winning goal against the Kamloops Blazers.

Both players will look to help a Broncos team that has given up 10 goals over their first two games.

#SCB welcome back pair of familiar faces with @owenblocker19 & Matt Stanley returning.

READ: https://t.co/Iyr3hZhyM7 pic.twitter.com/CNgFIv5DHB

— Swift Current Broncos (@SCBroncos) September 26, 2018

The #WHLCanes have acquired an eighth round draft pick from the Swift Current Broncos for forward Owen Blocker. #CaneTrain #FueledByPassion #YQL

RELEASE: https://t.co/Y62mjyCNjP pic.twitter.com/cYMPhDaMVK

— Lethbridge Hurricanes (@WHLHurricanes) September 26, 2018