The Swift Current Legionnaires have removed the interim tag attached to their head coach.

During the busy weekend that included a rebranding and a new logo, the U18 AAA team officially announced Todd Hornung will be behind the bench for the 2022/23 season.

Hornung took over the coaching reins in mid-February on a short-term basis. 

"I'm definitely committed here to see this out for a few years," he said Tuesday morning. "[To] help push this program along and get it back to not just winning hockey games but developing kids and that's what we want to do, is help them move on."

The Legionnaires roster for the upcoming campaign already has 10 southwestern Saskatchewan full-time players committed, double the amount from the 2021-22 team. Six of them are WHL-drafted prospects.  

"I think it's huge for us to be able to build around these kids and make this the program that kids growing up in Swift Current minor hockey want to play for," he said. "I think them knowing that and seeing these other kids stay here and play is going to help us build it but it also gives them an ultimate goal to try and reach."

Out-of-town players will arrive in Swift Current on August 19, with training camp games the two days following, before players head off to WHL and SJHL camps. The squad will reconvene in early September for the season ahead, with Hornung's goal of making the playoffs.

"I honestly think we're going to be very competitive," he said. "It's just going to [depend] how quickly we can adjust to playing with new lines and partners. We're all eager to get on the ice and get working."