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Kaelan Holt at camp

You wouldn't blame some Swift Current Broncos fans if they're having flashbacks during training camp this weekend.

Longtime supporters couldn't help but think about a different time in team history when a young man named Holt speeds towards a loose puck to create a scoring chance while another young man named Kruger patrols the crease.

It's not Todd and Trevor anymore as their sons Kaelan Holt and Aidan Kruger are the next generation trying to find their own place in Broncos lore.

"Obviously he's got a lot of history here," Kaelan said. "He knows a lot of people. He's pretty excited I think he was more nervous than me. People know me here because of my dad. It's pretty cool."

Todd Holt is the all-time leading scorer in Broncos history and a man who never says no when the alumni events come calling. He is very proud to see his son on the same ice he once skated.

"It means the world to me," Todd said. "To see the progress my son Kaelan has done and the steps he has made to make himself a better player. Seeing him out there on the ice I can't lie to you it brought tears to my eyes when he stepped out for the first ice session. It's an emotional place but in the long run I'm just very, very proud."

It's always difficult to make a WHL roster as an undrafted 18-year-old, bu if there was ever a time to attempt that with the Broncos it might be now. Swift Current had a major turnover up front after last season and the coaching staff has admitted they are still looking to fill some holes there.

"We all have to play our roles," Todd said. "Kaelan is a goal scorer. That's the reason he came in and I think the organization sees that he can put up some points. For him to make an impression on these guys he's got to put up numbers. My advice to him was to shoot the puck and do what he does best. Give him a couple more skates and he might be in the running hopefully."

Holt sees his son as someone who maybe slipped through the scouting cracks a bit before putting up 49 points in 42 games of Midget AAA last season.

"He's always been that diamond in the rough," Todd said. "In Midget AAA last year he was one of the most sought after kids in the league. One of those unnoticed Saskatchewan kids. He's really blossomed the last three or four years."

At the same time being the son of a legendary scorer doesn't mean that's entirely how Kaelan sees himself. 

"I describe myself as more of a two-way forward," Kaelan said. "I can score but I like to take care of my own end."

Even though the odds aren't always with an undrafted invite he still has his mind set on pushing for a roster spot.

"I'm hoping to obviously make it," Kaelan said. "It would be good to hopefully at least play a couple of exhibition games and show the coaches what I can do. What I hear is that they need a couple goal scorers. Hopefully I can put a couple of pucks in the net."

Aiden Kruger meanwhile is patrolling the net in camp as an undrafted 15-year-old. For him it's a first taste of WHL action and giving the Broncos a taste of what he could become as he develops.

Scrimmages continue on Friday and Saturday at 4pm and 6pm. The Blue vs. White game is set for 1pm on Sunday afternoon. Exhibition play starts with a rookie game against Moose Jaw in Swift Current on Tuesday.