HUMBOLDT — After suiting up last season for the Swift Current Broncos, defenceman Daylan Weigel is now helping the Humboldt Broncos gallop.
As of Jan. 24, the Broncos sat third in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League with a 26-11-1-0 record. The 19-year-old Weigel paced the Humboldt defencemen with 30 points in 37 games. He was sixth in the SJHL in that category. Weigel also plays physical. He is third on the Broncos with 120 penalty minutes.
“Daylan is a player who does many things well,” Broncos head coach Scott Barney said of the 5-foot-11, 175-pounder. “His skating and physicality put him on a different level. He’s also very smart at getting pucks to the net fast and effectively.”
The Broncos swapped a player development fee last summer to the Notre Dame Hounds for Weigel’s rights. He has quickly become an important part of a strong blueline group. Sixteen-year-old rookie Carsten Kayter has 24 points in 38 games and has committed to play at NCAA Division I University of Nebraska-Omaha in the future. In his fourth season with the Broncos, hometown product Logan Barglage is an important defender and offensive contributor with 24 points in 38 games. Fellow 20-year-old Chase Lacombe and 19-year-olds Quinn Myles and Chase Cooke, the latter was added during this season, provide stability.
“We like our D-corp’s willingness to compete and ability to be very mobile to defend,” Barney said.
Weigel has seven goals and 23 assists this season. He has been a key part of the Humboldt power play with three goals and 10 assists in man advantage situations. What has allowed Weigel to produced points this season?
“It starts off with the guys I play with,” he said. “They make things much easier on me and having the depth of our team, it doesn’t matter who you’re out there with. We got five solid guys on the ice so anything in the offensive zone is possible.”
As well as the Broncos’ depth, Weigel has also appreciated their camaraderie.
“Biggest thing I enjoy about the team this year is the guys on it,” he said. “It’s always fun coming to the rink just to put a smile on your face when you walk through the doors and get ready to hit the ice.”
Weigel also appreciates the Humboldt fans who turn out to the Elgar Petersen Arena to support their team. The Broncos are second in average attendance per game at 857.
“The rink here is awesome,” Weigel said. “I don’t think many Junior A teams get the fans like we do every game during the season and its always a good atmosphere.”
A Warman product, Weigel suited up for one U18 AAA season with the Beardy’s Blackhawks and two with the Saskatoon Blazers. In 2018, he was selected in the sixth round of the Western Hockey League Draft by the Regina Pats. Weigel played one game in 2019-2020 for the Pats while in his first season with the Blazers. In February of 2021, he was acquired by the Swift Current Broncos. Weigel played four games for the team that season in a “bubble”-like setting. Last season Weigel saw action in 20 games for Swift Current and collected five assists. Earlier this month the Kamloops Blazers traded for Weigel’s WHL rights. He said his major junior experience has been beneficial in the SJHL.
“For sure, it’s helped quite a bit just from a confidence standpoint and just more knowledge into hockey and life in general,” Weigel said. “It’s been a big help.
