It was a franchise-altering shift for the Humboldt Broncos last week.
Electing to focus on the future of the hockey club, Head Coach and General Manager Brayden Klimosko was active on the trade front, with a series of moves that saw many of the team’s veteran players headed elsewhere.
The first deal on Thursday saw the Broncos send 2005-born defenceman Oakley McIlwain to the Lloydminster Bobcats of the AJHL in exchange for 2007-born forward Morgan Hackman along with future considerations.
Later in the day was the blockbuster move of the Broncos sending 2005-born goalie Charlie Tritt, 2005-born defenceman Ryder Knutson and 2006-born forward Connor Miller to the Flin Flon Bombers in a trio of deals that netted the Broncos draft picks, future considerations and player development fees.
On Friday, Humboldt sent their leading scorer, 2005-born forward Jacob Strizzi to the Milton Menace of the OJHL in return for a development fee.
Also, the Broncos released 2005-born forward Jeter Korte from their roster. The Saskatoon product will finish his junior career playing at home, as he has joined the Saskatoon Westleys of the Prairie Junior Hockey League for the remainder of the season.
Klimosko said it was a tough decision to move out the veteran players but also felt it was a necessary one.
“I just didn’t know if we were going to get the push we needed to make a good run in the playoffs.”
The Broncos Head Coach and General Manager added that he along with the team’s scouting staff assessed the Broncos’ current situation and felt it was beneficial for the organization to focus on the future.
“We felt like if we don’t feel like there’s a potential chance to win it, we got to make sure that we’re doing whatever we can to make sure we’re going to be set up for the future.”
Heading into the trading deadline, the Broncos occupied the final playoff in the SJHL standings, sitting in the 8th position. With over half of the teams in the SJHL believing they are viable contenders for the Canterra Seeds Cup, Klimosko felt it was in the best interest of the team to take advantage of a trade market where there are more buyers than sellers.
“I just feel like it’s a year that everyone else is going for it, you’re getting top dollar in what you’re looking for in trades.”
The Humboldt Broncos have been a common fixture in the SJHL’s playoff throughout the franchise’s history. Over the last 45 years, the Broncos have failed to make the playoffs one on occasion back in 2015-16. (Does not include in 2020-21 when there were no playoffs in the SJHL due to COVID-19).
In the short term, Klimosko feels making the playoffs is the goal for the current edition of the club but adds that the standard for the organization shouldn’t be just making the playoffs.
“If we want to be average, we can be average.”
He added, “We’ve also only won five playoff series in the last 12.”
“That’s not enough, at the end of the day, we need more than that.”
With the exodus of veteran players that were moved out last week, there are now opportunities for the players remaining to carve themselves a bigger role on the club going forward.
Klimosko says that the players are now not only playing to finish off the regular season with a playoff appearance, but also an opportunity to return for the Broncos in 2026-27.
“I warned them, here’s your chance. You aren’t going to potentially get this chance if you ruin it, moving forward.”
After the moves last week, Tyce Penrod is now the team’s leading scorer with 18 points (6G-12A). The Saskatoon product ignited the Broncos comeback attempt on Sunday in Nipawin, as the Broncos suffered a 3-2 against the Hawks.
Rylan Hue and Oliver Phillips are currently leading the team in goals with 7, as both players increased their totals on the weekend as they both found the back of the net.
With future considerations and draft picks heading to Humboldt following last week’s trades, it will take years before there’s a proper assessment of the direction that the Broncos took at the 2026 trading deadline.
The Broncos believe these bold changes are a step toward greater success, with the ultimate goal of seeing more pennants hanging in the rafters at Elgar Petersen Arena.
