broncos 2014

The Swift Current Broncos are now on their way to British Columbia for a five-game road trip, but not before making a trade with the Saskatoon Blades.

The Broncos have dealt 18-year-old defenceman Cole Bevan and a 7th round Bantam Draft Pick in 2015 to the Blades in exchange for 19-year-old defenceman Ayrton Nikkel.

"I've seen Nikkel play for a few years, I think there's a lot of potential there," said Broncos Head Coach and GM Mark Lamb. "He's a very aggressive kid, and I think he's one of those guys that needs a different opportunity, and I think he'll be a very good player for us.

"I think he fits our identity, in how we try to play and what we do," he added. "He's been around a little bit, and I think he's looking for an opportunity to really stabilize himself and be a real top player."

Nikkel is in his 3rd full WHL season, and scored 8 goals and 26 points over 173 games with Brandon, Everett and Saskatoon. Bevan leaves the Broncos after two seasons, registering two assists in 18 games.

"[Bevan's] been a real good kid here," Lamb said. "He put in his time in the gym, worked hard, and was popular with the teammates... I'm just happy we can make a deal for him, and go to Saskatoon to hopefully develop into a real good player."

Nikkel joins a veteran-laden blue line which includes Dillon Heatherington, Brycen Martin and Brett Lernout, who all recently returned from NHL camps, and Lamb says this addition will add to the competition, even with Julius Honka still at Dallas Stars training camp after surviving the first round of cuts this weekend.

"I think we have a good core on defence now, and I think he's really going to add to it," Lamb said. "Honka's one of those guys, and we don't know what's going to happen. It's hard doing the business, but even if Honka comes back, this deal is going to be beneficial for us."

The Broncos take on the Prince George Cougars to start the west coast swing on Tuesday.