The Swift Current Broncos hit the ice today to start their training camp.

Director of Hockey Operations Jamie Porter says it will be a smaller camp than usual over at Fairview Arenas.

"We've been talking the last couple of years about having a smaller camp and seeing if that would raise the level of competition - we're going to try it this year. It kind of helps with us moving over to another rink," Porter said. "We've got three teams this year, so we're going to have the majority of our 50-man list, and then a select group of free agents."

Among those free agents in camp are Logan Foster, who has recorded one point over seven WHL games, and Reed Morison, who has eight points over 75 career WHL games.

"I think that we have to see that they can take on a role right now," said Porter. "Neither one of them have had what they would call satisfactory careers yet, and I know both of them believe that there's more there than what they have shown. They have to show us right now that they can contribute right away and help us in a way that a young guy probably can't immediately, but will as time goes on."

Porter says there are quite a few young players right on the verge of making the team despite a healthy number of returning players this season.

The Broncos will start camp without a few veterans, including Lane Pederson and Max Lajoie who are expected to push for pro jobs, and Aleksi Heponiemi who is at Finland's U-20 camp.

Swift Current's intrasquad game is set for Sunday afternoon.