Youngsters impress in Broncos intersquad game

Kaelan Holt, Riley Stotts and Brandan Arnold all led the way with two points as Team White beat Team Blue 4-0 in the annual Swift Current Broncos intersquad game.

"Felt really good," Arnold said. "We had a good team, all worked hard and it was a team effort today."

It was largely a display of young talent with only a couple returning veterans in the lineup.

"These guys have made it tough on us," said Broncos associate coach Ryan Smith. "The decisions that are going to be made in the next days are going to be tough. I really like our team. The whole organization has switched to a skilled speed game and I think you could see that in the game today."

Arnold and Holt came together twice in the first period as they created some open ice off the rush and were able to find each other.

"We had a lot of chemistry out there," Arnold said. "He's a fast player too. We were waterbugs out there. There's a lot of energy with him."

Stotts, Swift Current's 2015 first round bantam draft pick, scored once on a scramble around the net and helped set up a goal by Tristen Elder in the second period to make it 4-0.

"I just went hard to the net off a rebound and got it in there," Elder said. "All three of us went to the net digging for the puck. It's good to get that goal."

Stotts is 15 and isn't eligible to play for the Broncos this season, but Elder is an 18-year-old making what may be his last push for a WHL roster spot.

"It's been really tough they've pushed us hard," Elder said. "But I think it's been good for me so far."

Elder and Arnold both spent last season in the SJHL. They're both surely hoping some experience against junior age players gives them a leg up if they get the opportunity to play in some exhibition games.

"It was an advantage for me as playing against those older guys is a lot more physical," Elder said. "I worked on my defensive game a lot last season."

Arnold is signed by the Broncos but wasn't able to make the club as a 17-year-old. He put up 31 points in 49 games for Nipawin.

"Getting sent down last year I got a lot of ice time," he noted. "I think I progressed a lot there. The coaching staff knew what I needed to work on and I think it helped a lot."

"I'm stronger and I put more muscle on for bigger opponents."

Curt Doyle and Logan Drackett combined to earn the shutout for Team White.

The Broncos made several cuts before the Blue and White game and were expected to make several more before Tuesday's rookie game against Moose Jaw at the Credit Union iPlex.

The following players re-assigned before Sunday's game: 

G Matts Bratton (2000)

G Aiden Kruger (2000)

G Hunter Lorenson (1998)

D Michael Bentz (2000)

D Ethan Shlag (2000)

F Justin Garcia (2000)

F Chase Haygarth (2000)

F Aaron Wittimer (2000)

D Aidan Metcalfe (2000)

F Coleton Booth (1998)

F Matthew Conlon (2000)

F Drake Usher (2000)

D Noah Form (1999)

D Hunter Sansbury (2000)

F Nicolas Abernathy (2000)

F Clark Nelson (2000)

F Kalum Nohnychuk (2000)

D Nick Bischoff (2000)

D Matthew Johnson (1999)

D Harrison Risdon (2000)

F Matthew Flodell (2000)

F Colton Huard (2000)

F Craig Pejkovic (1997)