2023-24 Season Preview – Swift Current Broncos
The Swift Current Broncos suffered last-minute heartbreak a season ago, missing out on a WHL playoff berth on the final Saturday night of the regular season. This year’s Broncos group heads into the 2023-24 season determined not only to avenge that setback, but to earn their place at the top of the Eastern Conference.
Key Returners
The Broncos boast four NHL Draft selections on the 2023-24 roster including Pittsburgh Penguins first-rounder Owen Pickering. The St. Adolphe, Man. product led Swift Current in defensive scoring a season ago with nine goals and 45 points while serving as team captain. Josh Filmon, a prospect of the New Jersey Devils, enjoyed a career year with 47 goals a season ago including a six-goal game at Edmonton in December, while forward Connor Hvidston (Anaheim Ducks) and goaltender Reid Dyck (Boston Bruins) bring NHL Draft pedigree to a balanced Broncos roster.
Who’s In And Out
The Broncos added a pair of 20-year-old skaters via trade this off-season including local defenceman Ryan McCleary, who arrived in August from the Portland Winterhawks. McCleary will participate in New York Rangers rookie camp this month after finishing second among Portland rearguards with 13 goals and 31 points a season ago. Forward Tyson Laventure returns to Saskatchewan via the Lethbridge Hurricanes after beginning his WHL career in Prince Albert; he was Lethbridge’s co-leader in goals in 2022-23 with 22. Right-shot defenceman Peyton Kettles, was Swift Current’s first-round pick in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft. The Winnipegger spent last season playing U18 hockey in his hometown at the RINK Academy.
NHL Draft Prospects
Defenceman Josh Fluker and forward Clarke Caswell were taken with back-to-back first-round selections in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft and both enter their first year of NHL Draft eligiblity this season. Caswell, from Brandon, Man., finished ninth in team scoring a season ago with nine goals and 29 points while Fluker, from Boissevain, Man, made 55 regular season appearances as a 16-year-old blueliner. Luke Mistelbacher collected 16 points (6G-10A) in his rookie WHL season in 2022-23 and enters his 18-year-old campaign a year older and a more experienced after signing with the Broncos in 2021.
BRONCOS BY THE NUMBERS (2022-23):
Team Record: 31-33-1-3 (66 points)
Division Ranking: 5th, Central
2023 WHL Playoffs: did not qualify
Goals For: 227 (12th)
Goals Against: 242 (T-14th)
PP (Overall): 20.9% (14th)
PK (Overall): 76.2% (16th)
Leading Scorers: Filmon (47-28-75), M. Ward (26-48-74), Hvidston (21-44-65)
Leading Rookie: Caswell (9-20-29)
NHL Draft: Dyck (BOS – 2022), Filmon (NJ – 2022), Hvidston (ANA – 2022), Pickering (PIT – 2022)
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