It's like Christmas for hockey fans.

The puck drops on the 2016-17 WHL season tonight in Swift Current as the Broncos host the Saskatoon Blades.

It's a new era for the Broncos with a new Head Coach and Director of Player Personnel Manny Viveiros.

Swift Current went 5-2-0-1 in the pre-season and scored an average of four goals per game over that span.

"We're very encouraged how the pre-season went," Viveiros said. "We also understand it's just pre-season so the real games start (tonight). We don't know who we will have back from NHL camps but having said that we're still very comfortable with our roster going into the weekend and we can't wait to start playing some real games."

Glenn Gawdin, Lane Pederson, Max Lajoie and Colby Sissons have been away at different NHL camps.

"I always say it's a marathon not a sprint," Viveiros said. "That's something we want to get better and better every month. I think we'll have a better indication around the ten game mark where we stand in the league. Our expectations are to be good at the end of the season and contend for a playoff spot."

The Broncos expect to play a more aggressive, puck possession style of game this season.

"We want to be a team that skates," Viveiros said. "A team that doesn't back away. We want to always be aggressive and pursue the puck. That's a mindset we tried to have from day one of training camp."

The players have been buying in to what Viveiros is preaching. Veterans like Calvin Spencer are enjoying the modified style of play.

"We've been playing good as a team," Spencer said. "The new systems are really helping us out. We're a lot more aggressive and getting on the other defencemen."

Spencer scored three times in six pre-season games and hopes he can step his game up in his overage season.

"Obviously just want to get as much playing time as I can trying to get in the top six," Spencer said. "I'm going to have to work hard for it... a lot of hard work and a good season as well. Make a playoff push."

While Spencer is planning to take a leadership role on the club as the only 20-year-old on the roster, eight players on the team qualify as rookies. They include 16-year-old Owen Blocker.

"Coming in here I didn't expect it to make it this far," Blocker said. "It's really a true honour. I'm having a great time with all of the boys. It's a great experience."

The Broncos picked Blocker in the second round of the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. He scored 32 points in 42 games in Manitoba Midget AAA last season.

Blocker sees himself as a well-rounded player and that could help his transition to the WHL.

"Through training camp I just had to keep telling myself finish my checks and keep moving my feet," he said. "That's what got me to this point so it's been working out. I like to believe I can make this jump just for the simple reason that I'm a two-way forward so it works both ways."

Blocker joins Riley Stotts, Josh Baker, Cole Johnson, Aleksi Heponiemi, Tanner Mole, Noah King, Matthew Stanley and Dom Schmiemann as rookies on the roster.

The Broncos start the season with a home-and-home against the Saskatoon Blades. You can hear Friday night's game on The Eagle 94.1 FM with Robertson Family Group Broncos Hockey at 6:30pm.

There will be special activities at the Credit Union iPlex starting at 4pm and puck drop is 7pm.