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In a series of trades that shocked some fans, the Humboldt Broncos got rid of five of their six 20-year-old players just before the January 10 trade deadline last week.
Nick Keller, Spencer Braaten, Justin Buzzeo, Jeremy Boyer and Riley Gillies were all traded for future prospects to teams around the country. The only 20-year-old player remaining with the team is goaltender Andrew Bodnarchuk.
Why that happened is something that has been on the minds of fans since.
"We'd been struggling for some time," said head coach and general manager of the Broncos, Dean Brockman, when asked that question.
Maybe, he added, those older players had been struggling with all the talk of next season in the community - when Humboldt will host the 2012 RBC Cup.
Though Brockman said he was unsure of what was running through the minds of those players, he felt it was time to "get a little bit more set for next year."
The focus at this time, he said, is not entirely on next season.
"We have this season to play out," he said, adding that the extra ice time these players will now get will give "the young guys a chance to play the roles they'll probably play next year."
It will get them more experience, he agreed.
The team has recorded one win and two losses since the trade, but Brockman said he has been "really happy with our effort. We've played to the end of the game.... we haven't had a lot of puck luck, but that comes with more work and more patience.... Overall, it's been a lot of fun watching these young guys grow."
In the Broncos' final trade before the deadline, they sent defenceman Tanner Clark (1993-Rosetown, SK) to the Flin Flon Bombers for defenceman Braden Laraque (1992-Saskatoon, SK).