Three Broncos overagers moving on
The Swift Current Broncos will have a familiar look next season with 19 of 22 players eligible to return.
Three overage players will be moving on, including defenseman Sam Mcginley, the longest serving member of the Broncos, who played four seasons with the team. He finished the 2022-23 season with nine goals, 28 assists, and a plus-nine rating in 61 games.
“Sam will be missed,” said head coach Devan Praught. “Sam played a very important role for us on our back end and being the co-recipient of the Defenseman of the Year was well deserved for him. It attributed to his growth in his time here, really becoming a twoway defenseman with lots of offensive upside and playing on both sides of the special teams.”
Mcginley suited up for 195 Western Hockey League games with 77 points and 158 penalty minutes along the way.
The Calgary product was drafted in the fifth round by the Regina Pats in 2017 before being traded to Swift Current early in the 2019-20 season.
“A popular guy in the dressing room as well, voted the most popular amongst his teammates. A voice of reason for our guys and an experienced guy as well. We’ll miss his leadership and his onice contributions,” added Praught.
Drew Englot was acquired at the trade deadline from the Everett Silvertips after playing this season with the Kamloops Blazers. He finished with four goals and six assists in 34 games with the Broncos.
“Drew is an upstanding young man. Just a workhorse. He came in and really showed guys what it’s like to be true professional every day. He showed up with high energy and a smile on his face prepared to give 110, whether it was a simple warm-up drill or battles at the end of practice he’s fully engaged and giving it everything he’s
got. I think we saw that in the consistency of his effort and his play down the stretch for us,” noted Praught.
Englot, a 6’2’’ forward from Candiac, SK, finished his career with 86 points and 228 penalty minutes in 214 regular season games with the Regina Pats, Blazers, and Broncos.
“He’s a big-bodied guy that played quality twoway hockey for us and was a presence on the net front on the specials
teams and also on the penalty kill, willing to jump in front of any shot. His leadership will leave a lasting impact here on years to come.”
The Broncos will also be losing defenseman Mason Ward. Ward suited up in 29 games with the Broncos, finishing with five assists and 48 penalty minutes. The 6’5’’ defenseman was acquired in a trade deadline deal from the Brandon Wheat Kings.
“Mason came in to provide
us that depth and grit on the backside,” said Praught. “Mason is a big-bodied guy who is physically intimidating to opponents and he did a great job with that of getting on the body and making people aware when he was on the ice. Also, a poise to him and a confidence of being a veteran in the league, real puck poise and play, headbanning pucks, and keeping things simple.”
Ward appeared in 183 regular season WHL games with the Red Deer Rebels, Wheat Kings, and Broncos, totalling 44 points and 283 penalty minutes.
“I think we saw him grow into being more confident on the blue line and making plays as well as he adjusted to being in a new environment in Swift Current. Just a big guy who’s got a very calm demeanour, very even-keel and consistent in that as well and his efforts. He will be missed,” said Praught.