Depth on D leads to competition at Broncos camp

The Swift Current Broncos are hoping a plethora of talented young defencemen could give them a big boost this season.

The organization feels they have more worthy defencemen than they have spots for going into camp.

"We probably have 11-12 defencemen that are fighting for 6-7 spots," said Broncos Coach/GM Mark Lamb. "That's exciting. Can a young guy come in and take a veteran's spot? Absolutely. If a kid is playing that good we're hoping that happens."

The Broncos have enough league veterans to fill out a lineup card with Griffin Foulk, Jordan Harris, Max Lajoie, Kade Jensen, Jordan Thomson and Jaydan Gordon.

They will be pushed by a collection of cookies including 2014 first round pick Dominic Schmiemann, highly touted prospect Colby Sissons, his midget defensive partner and 2013 fifth round pick Jacob Thomas, third round pick Matthew Parsons and several other young talents.

It's a good problem to have and yet they also need to find homes for some of those young defencemen who are ready to make the leap.

"That's why you go through training camp it's going to be very competitive," Lamb said. "There's some guys I'm excited to see that I haven't seen play. Exhibition and training camp is going to be really huge for some of these players whether they play on this team or we trade them."

Swift Current is hopeful that depth on the blue line might help them address what they perceive to be a need up front.

"There's a couple spots there that we need to improve up in our top six," Lamb said. "That's where it comes in play with these D. We need to do something. They all can't play here but they can play in the league. Hopefully we can turn them into something."

That's where exhibition games can serve as a showcase for the Broncos and other teams can get a look at that surplus of young talent.

Scrimmages at camp run Thursday through Saturday at 4pm and 6pm. The Blue vs. White game is Sunday at 1pm.