Broncos set to open WHL regular season at home tonight

The Swift Current Broncos will open their 2021-20 Western Hockey League regular season tonight against the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers.

The Broncos have announced that concessions will be available for food and beverage service during the regular season.

Fans are asked to be prepared to show proof of vaccination and that QR codes will be the quickest way to gain entry. QR codes can be found ehealthsask.ca/mysaskhealthrecord and can be saved on the SK Vax Wallet, phone, or printed out.

Masks are mandatory while in the Innovation Credit Union iplex unless fans are eating or drinking in their seat.

The Broncos roster includes four 20-year-olds, five 19-year-olds, four 18-year-olds, eight 17-year-olds, and three 16-year-olds.

The Broncos will start the season with four overage players as goaltender Isaac Poulter, defenseman Rylan Thiessen, and forwards Cole Nagy and Aiden Bulych compete for the three spots.

The Broncos have also kept three players from the 2020 WHL Draft. 21st overall pick Brady Birnie skated in four games last season as an underage player in his hometown of Regina. Forward Rylan Gould will join Birnie in the forward ranks after being picked in the second round, 42nd overall. Fellow second rounder Grayson Burzynski will patrol the blueline at 6’3’’, 211 pounds.

German defenseman Rayan Bettahar was added with the fifth pick in the CHL Import Draft and will bring international experience to the blueline as well.

Poulter is joined by sophomore netminder Reid Dyck to give the Broncos a formidable duo in goal.