Selected 9th overall in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft, the Swift Current Broncos and their fans are hoping defenceman Joel Sexsmith can be a big piece of the team's future.

The 6'1", 162lbs Edmonton native spent his 2016/2017 season with the Rink Hockey Academy Bantam Prep. team under the guidance of Head Coach Brad Purdie.

According to the Rink Bantam Prep. bench-boss, the Broncos have plenty to look forward to.

"What you can expect from Joel is a kid that is going to leave it all out on the ice every day," Purdie said.

"He is a big strong player that skates really well and sees the ice very well. He plays a strong game and wears his heart on his sleeve. He was one of our leaders, wearing a letter for us this year. Joel is a charismatic kid that people will flock to, and a vocal leader."

Playing his first season in the Canadian Sport School Bantam Hockey League, which saw 13 of its players taken in the first round of the draft, Sexsmith recorded 4 goals and 12 assists in 30 games.

Purdie says he expects the 15-year old defender to be a leader in the dressing room as well.

"He is an in-your-face type of player," he said.

"He is not going to back down from anybody or any challenges. A very mature young man that was one of our leaders. Look for him to be one of the leaders going forward on that team."

"We see him as a top-two guy" were the words of Broncos Director of Hockey Operations Jamie Porter following their selection of Sexsmith.

Purdie feels that is an accurate prediction.

"He is aggressive, he doesn't sit back and give guys time and space," he said.

"He played that role for us this year. Anytime the other team's top players were out there, we were trying to get him out there as much as possible."

As it is with most young players, there is a learning curve that takes place while trying to make the jump to the Western Hockey League.

However, according to the Rink Bantam Prep. Head Coach, learning is another one of Sexsmith's strengths.

"Joel is a sponge, he wants to learn and wants to get better," Purdie said.

"He is always, whether it's in the gym or on the ice, doing things that are going to help him get to that next level and stay a high-end player at that level."

Going forward, Purdie feels the biggest key for Sexsmith to become the best player he can be is simply to continue learning.

"Learn from the veterans, and take it in stride," he said.

"Not very often do the young guys make an immediate impact so just learn from the veterans and try to soak in as much as he can from everybody around that is trying to teach him."