Hitmen acquire Elder from Broncos for draft pick

Another member of the 2018 Western Hockey League Champion Swift Current Broncos is on the move.

Thursday, the team dealt 20-year-old forward Kaden Elder to the Calgary Hitmen in exchange for a third-round selection in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft.

The addition of Elder, rounds out Calgary’s overage group, giving the Hitmen a league maximum of three with Luke Coleman and Jake Kryski.

“Kaden brings a veteran presence to our dressing room having played nearly 300 regular season and playoff games in addition to helping the Broncos win a WHL Championship last season,” said Hitmen General Manager Jeff Chynoweth.  “He is a competitor with an honest work ethic who we feel will be an excellent addition to our current group.”

Elder was originally selected by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the first round, 22nd overall, of the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft. He was subsequently acquired by the Broncos on November 5, 2015. In 250 career WHL regular season games, Elder has recorded 69 points (39G-30A), including six power-play goals, one short-handed goal, and three game-winning goals.

The 5-foot-10, 183-pound product of Saskatoon, Sask. is coming off back-to-back seasons of reaching the 15-goal plateau, including a career-high 18 goals last season.

Elder has participated in 46 WHL Playoff games as well, recording 10 points (3G-7A), including nine points (3G-6A) in the 2018 WHL Playoffs as the Broncos brought the Ed Chynoweth Cup back to Swift Current and the province of Saskatchewan.

A move on one of the Broncos’ 20-year-olds was expected after the team acquired 20-year-old defenceman Matthew Stanley, claiming him off waivers from the Lethbridge Hurricanes Wednesday.

BREAKING: Hitmen acquire 20-year-old forward Kaden Elder from the Swift Current Broncos

Details ➡️ https://t.co/uh7rInb2xH pic.twitter.com/zzAm4OeLbH

— Calgary Hitmen (@WHLHitmen) September 27, 2018

#SCB deal forward Kaden Elder to @WHLHitmen.

DETAILS: https://t.co/cBMN3Ivkrv pic.twitter.com/Pw3iGFay5f

— Swift Current Broncos (@SCBroncos) September 27, 2018