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Dillon Heatherington (photo by Darwin Knelsen)

Swift Current defenceman Dillon Heatherington has joined a long list of Broncos on the injured list.

The World Junior gold medalist sustained the injury during the first period of a 7-0 loss to the Calgary Hitmen on Friday.

"We need the guys here to step up and take those minutes," said Broncos Coach/GM Mark Lamb. "It's a huge blow to this hockey club we're not going to hide that at all."

Heatherington joins fellow alternate captains Carter Rigby and Coda Gordon on the injured reserve.

"Right now we have almost our whole leadership group out," Lamb said. "I look at it as great opportunity for other players. So far with some of the stuff that has gone on here we haven't had other players step up and take advantage of the situation."

Guys who have played big minutes like Brett Lernout and Max Lajoie are going to be leaned on in a big way with Heatherington out.

"A lot of those guys were getting too much ice already," Lamb said. "They play both special teams. We just need some of the other guys to fill in in spots and help five on five."

The Broncos visit the Kootenay Ice on Saturday night. Our broadcast starts on The Eagle 94.1 FM at 7:30pm.