The puck drops on another WHL pre-season tonight in Moose Jaw.

The Swift Current Broncos visit Mosaic Place to take on the Warriors in the annual rookie game.

Both clubs ice as young a lineup as possible in order to get their prospects an opportunity to face some game action against other players at a similar level.

The Broncos came out of training camp this year with more signed, young prospects pushing for rosters spots than we have seen in recent years. That mixed with a large number of returning players will make for a very interesting competition during exhibition.

"We were quite happy with the level of the camp," said Broncos Director of Hockey Operations Jamie Porter. "We've been quite happy with the last couple (draft) classes. Even the 1999 class that we didn't have a lot of picks in the guys have really taken the next step. We've got a new coach and he's got new ideas. At the same time we've known coming into this year that our prospects have had stellar progressions and that's going to be a challenge for veterans. At the same time our young guys have got to show they compete long term too not just after a couple of days."

The Broncos signed a few players after camp. Without officially announcing it the players, family or their old teams indicated on Twitter than Bailey Brkin, Joel Hofer and Nolan Corrado signed with Swift Current. That comes after announcing the signing of Quinton Waitzer at the start of camp, while others like Logan Barlage, Josh Baker and Aleksi Heponiemi are ready to suit up. They may not be the last to put pen to paper.

"We always want to be responsible about contracts," Porter said. "You don't sign everybody you want to make sure you have a plan for the players and the organization. We've had some solid signings over the last year or so and we have some guys we are talking to, but you want to make sure there's an opportunity for the player to. I don't think we're going to go crazy but we are having conversations."

Goaltending continues to be a position of interest. Giving Brkin and Hofer contracts puts the Broncos at five signed goaltenders to start pre-season. They will compete with 18-year-old Caiden Kreitz as well as returning veterans Travis Child and Taz Burman.

"I can't recall the last time we had this much depth," Porter said. "We're going to let the younger guys get a little bit of a taste of the WHL game. See if they can handle it and see if they are legitimately contending for a spot and then we're going to be patient about it. We do have two returning guys and we have a couple guys in the system we think are close, so I don't think we need to be in any rush to make any decisions."

It's one thing to impress in scrimmages against your own team and it's another to do it against other WHL competition. The rookie game will take the intensity up a notch.

"It's the next step now right," Porter said. "Training camp is another level from minor hockey and the rookie game is the next step from the Blue and White. I'm looking forward to seeing some of the guys playing their first games and see how they react to it. I'm looking forward to the guys we saw over the last couple years and see how their next step is and how much more relaxed they are playing that game and see if they can take more control. It's no different than a ladder. Each step you're going up it gets a little bit harder. We need to see how our guys progress and see if any of them hit a wall or if they continue to get better."

After tonight's game in Moose Jaw the Broncos will participate in an exhibition invitational in Regina on the weekend. They will have games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday while keeping most of the guys they have left in camp on the roster through the weekend.

"For the most part I think the couple of the 2001s we will look at sending home either after Moose Jaw or in Regina," Porter said. "After that I think we'll be carrying what we've got for a little while. With a new coach I think we need to be patient and let him see not just the young guys but our veteran group. He wants to take his time with that so we'll be patient and probably carry larger numbers than we have in the past."

This was the first camp for new Head Coach and Director of Player Personnel Manny Viveiros. Porter was very pleased with how well Viveiros was able to work with him and the rest of their staff throughout the process.

"It's been seamless," Porter noted. "We've had no issues whatsoever. It's a new day and a new door has opened for Manny and I. So far it's been a lot of fun and I don't anticipate that changing."

Now some young players are hoping tonight's game in Moose Jaw can open a new door for them. The fun starts now.