It's an odd feeling for all parties involved, as a slew of players are set to embark on a journey through the WHL's Eastern Conference Finals against their former club.
 
The blockbuster trade deadline deal between the Swift Current Broncos and Lethbridge Hurricanes had seven players switching sides, including what Hurricanes GM Peter Anholt feels are a pair of all-time Lethbridge greats now in Swift Current.
 
"Let's be really honest here - Stuey Skinner and along with Giorgio (Estephan) are going to go down as two of the greatest Hurricanes of all-time," he said. "For me, that was the biggest struggle with making the trade. What those kids had helped our organization do over the last number of years to bring it out of the graveyard, you might say." 

The third sent to Swift Current was forward Tanner Nagel who, according to Anholt, was as valuable as any to the Hurricanes since being acquired from the Portland Winterhawks in September of 2016.
 
"The thing about Tanner Nagel - I made it really clear with last year's team - with all the deals that we did, the Tanner Nagel deal might have been the most important deal that we made all last year," noted the Lethbridge GM. "What he brought to the team, and how he played, and of all the things he did. So along with Stuey and Giorgio, Tanner was as big and as important to that team as anybody."
 
But, with the team performing at a level less than what Anholt had hoped the first half of the 2017-18 regular season, he says a need arose to shake things up.
 
The team brought a balance of youth and veteran leadership on board in the form of rookie forward Logan Barlage, overage goaltender Logan Flodell, forward Owen Blocker and defenceman Matthew Stanley. 
 
"In getting Flodell, who I knew from my Seattle days scouting, I had an idea about him. But, he's also one of those guys that he's even better once he gets on your team. He's been very, very good for us, both on and off the ice. He's been great for our defence core because he talks to them lots, helps them out lots. So, he's added a different dimension also than just stopping pucks."
 
Flodell has been a sturdy and steady presence in net for Lethbridge this postseason, racking up a .910 save-percentage and 2.77 goals-against-average to go along with his 8-2 record. It's the veteran goalie's first stint in the playoffs.
 
"It's a lot different than the regular season - it's a lot harder on the body, he said. "As long as you're prepared and getting ready for it, I tihnk I'll do fine. It's a big task ahead of us this round, but I think it's going to be a good series."
 
Backstopping a team that has out-scored opponents 51-30 this postseason, Flodell says he credits the team in front of him for the effort put in on and off the ice.
 
I think we just realized what kind of guys we had in the room and the character we had in the room. We kind of just put that all together, watched a lot of video and film, learned from our mistakes and I feel that really worked into the way we've been playing in playoffs," Flodell said. "Just the work we've been putting in in practice shows in games. Getting on teams early, and being physical. I guess we've got to stick to our gameplan we have against Swift Current and I think we'll be alright."
 
 
Puck drop in Game 1 is slated for 7 p.m. from the Innovation Credit Union iPlex.
 
"Hey we're underdogs, there's no doubt about it - all you've got to do is look at the regular season to know that," said Anholt of the series ahead. "That being said, we think we've got some good players too, albeit young. But I'll tell you what - our guys are confident and they know that when they play like Brent (Kisio) and the coaches want them to play, they have a chance. That's all we want." 
 
Catch all of tonight's action live on The Eagle 94.1 for Robertson Family Group Swift Current Broncos Hockey starting at 7 p.m.