"I'm really excited to be home - it's a great feeling."

You'd be hard-pressed to find someone in the southwest enjoying late-August more than Swift Current's Hendrik de Klerk.

The 16-year-old defenceman was traded to his hometown Broncos from the Spokane Chiefs yesterday, enabling the chance to make a claim from 12 years ago come to fruition.

READ: Legionnaires Head Coach Piling Praise on Newest Bronco de Klerk

"I'm just ecstatic, that's the only thing to really describe it... I remember when I was probably four years old playing initiation - my mom still tells me this story - one day, I told my coach that when I get older, I'm going to play for the Broncos. Hopefully that can come true," de Klerk said.

From days playing with the Midget AAA Legionnaires (left), the Midget AA Broncos (middle), the Bantam AA Broncos (right), right down to initiation, Hendrik de Klerk has enjoyed the thought of one day suiting up for the Broncos at the WHL level for as long as he can remember.

de Klerk has shown a tremendous knack to be able to quarterback the play in the offensive zone each shift, whether in 5-on-5 play, or on the man-advantage - something that was especially noticed in the 2018-19 season with the Home Hardware Midget AAA Legionnaires.

"I think one thing I can bring right now is just a bit more offensiveness on the back end - joining the rush and things," de Klerk said. "Just getting up ice, and trying to add another player to the offense a little bit."

Some common improvements are on the radar for de Klerk to be able to both log ice time, and also succeed at the WHL level.

"One thing I've got to work on is just still building up my size a little bit, and working on my shot -that's the big thing for me."

"Just being consistent - that's one thing in the league. You play 68 games each year, you've got to be consistent and show up every night."

de Klerk said he's already had a chance to mingle with the team a bit, after suiting up in practice this morning at the Innovation Credit Union iPlex.

"This morning when I was at practice, I talked a little bit to (Christian) Riemer and (Ethan) Regnier - they played on the Legionnaires before I got there when I was an AP. They're good guys."

As the 2019-20 season approaches, de Klerk says it shouldn't take long to shake off any nerves and jitters that understandably come with the notion of making a childhood dream come true.

"Little bit nervous playing in front of the hometown, but once I get the nerves away, I'll just be playing hockey, and that's what I love to do, so I can't wait to get going."

de Klerk says he will play his first preseason game with the Broncos on Saturday, when Swift Current takes on the Pats in the provincial capital.