The Swift Current Broncos and Penticton Vees worked out a massive trade as a part of the Western Hockey League Expansion Draft on Wednesday.
The Broncos sent overage forward Brady Birnie and 2009-born forward Brooks DeMars to the expansion Vees in exchange for five draft picks, including a first round pick in 2027. They also receive a fourth round pick in 2025, a second round pick in 2026, a fifth round pick in 2028. The trade includes a conditional eighth-round pick in 2028 that will turn into a first round pick if Demars reports to the Vees.
The Vees then selected Shaunavon’s Nolan Stevenson in the expansion draft from the Broncos. Stevenson has played the past two seasons with the Vees in the British Columbia Junior Hockey League. He had 39 points in 51 regular season games this season, followed by eight assists in 12 playoff outings. The 6’2’’ defenseman previously committed to the University of Nebraska-Omaha for the 2025-26 season.
Birnie finished his Bronco career with 72 goals and 97 assists in 267 games. He added seven points in 14 playoff games. He was the 21st overall pick in the 2020 WHL Draft.
DeMars, a 6’1’’ forward from Hugo, MN, had 69 points in 50 games with the Long Island 15U AAA Gulls this season. He also had 15 points in as many games with the 16U AAA Gulls.
