Estephan and Skinner share the experience

The Edmonton boys have stuck together.

You could excuse Giorgio Estephan if he instinctively looks over at the goal crease and expects Stuart Skinner to be standing there.

After all, that’s pretty much how both hockey players’ careers have gone since the duo’s minor hockey days in their hometown of Edmonton.

Now, after following each through the Edmonton hockey ranks and on up in their junior careers with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, the duo are on the move to the same team once again as the Hurricanes pulled the trigger on a major move Tuesday in advance of today’s Western Hockey League trade deadline, sending the Canes captain, goaltender and Tanner Nagel to the Swift Current Broncos for 16-year-old forward Logan Barlage, goaltender Logan Flodell, forward Owen Blocker and defenceman Matthew Stanley as well as a first-round pick in the 2020 WHL bantam, a third-round pick in 2020 and a conditional second-round pick in 2021.

“I’ve known Giorgio my whole life and I’ve literally followed him everywhere,” said Skinner at Tuesday morning’s press conference announcing the trade. “We were in South Side together, and then I come up and he goes to Midget South Side, then I go to Midget South Side. Then he gets drafted in Lethbridge and I get drafted in Lethbridge. I’ve followed him my whole life and now we both get traded to Swift Current. So it’s kinda funny.”

That team-hopping trend drew a chuckle from the five-year veteran and captain.

“It seems like me and Skins go everywhere together,” said Estephan. “I don’t know what the heck is going on, but from minor hockey to bantam to any team we’re ever on, it’s been with him. It’s nice to go with Nags, too. He’s been a great friend and it kind of helps ease the transition a little bit. But there are a lot of guys in there I’m going to miss.”