Broncos make another blockbuster trade

Logan Flodell

The Swift Current Broncos made another blockbuster deal Tuesday, bringing in three of the Lethbridge Hurricanes top players in exchange for four players and three draft picks.

The Broncos acquired overage forward Giorgio Estephan, goaltender Stuart Skinner, and forward Tanner Nagel.

In return, the Broncos sent goaltender Logan Flodell, forwards Logan Barlage and Owen Blocker, and defenseman Matthew Stanley, as well as a first and third round picks in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft and a conditional second round pick in the 2021 draft to Lethbridge.

Estephan is the Hurricanes captain and is currently tied for 12th in WHL scoring with 58 points in 39 games. The Buffalo Sabres draft pick has exactly 297 points in 297 career WHL games. He also has 28 points in 23 career playoff games.

Nagel has eight points in 35 games this season. He has 25 points and 160 penalty minutes over 145 career games with Portland and Lethbridge. The Mossbank native played part of his minor hockey in Swift Current and should add some grit and toughness to the Bronco forward ranks.

Skinner, 19, is a third round draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers. He has a 14-15-2-0 record with a 3.38 goals against average and a 0.897 save percentage this season. He has played in 182 games for the Hurricanes with a 3.30 GAA and a 0.907 career save percentage. The 6’4’’ Edmonton native has also appeared in 24 playoff games with a 3.18 GAA and a 0.911 save percentage.

The Broncos announced a second trade Tuesday when they acquired 19-year-old forward Andrew Fyten from the Calgary Hitmen in exchange for the rights to defenseman Ethan Martini or a conditional third-round pick in the 2020 Bantam Draft.

Fyten has 16 points in 40 games this season and is a veteran of 155 WHL games.

Details to follow