The Humboldt Broncos dealt away five of their six 20-year-olds over the weekend.
On January 7 and 8, Broncos head coach and GM Dean Brockman orchestrated five trades that sees five players leave the organization for future considerations.
The biggest deal saw the Broncos send 20-year-old forwards Justin Buzzeo (Windsor, ON) and Jeremy Boyer (Saskatoon) to the Yorkton Terriers.
Both Buzzeo and Boyer are in the top five in Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League scoring this year with 56 points each.
Terriers GM Don Chesney says it was his thought that the team needed a little more horsepower and that it was time to do something to get the team going in the second half. Chesney knows the competition in the playoffs will be very intense again this year and that this will hopefully give them a better chance at having a long and successful playoff run.
In addition to dealing Buzzeo and Boyer, the Broncos sent forward Riley Gillies (1990, Regina) to the Dauphin Kings of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL), Nick Keller (1990, Saskatoon) to the Swan Valley Stampeders of the MJHL and Spencer Braaten (1990, Saskatoon) to the Kindersley Klippers - all for future considerations.
The moves came in advance of the SJHL trade deadline, which was January 10.
Brockman had told the Journal in December that a lack of leadership on the team could be one of the reasons behind their hot and cold play so far this season.
Perhaps because of the focus in the community on next season, when Humboldt will host the 2012 RBC Cup, Brockman said, none of the older players have taken the reins to lead the team this season.
"Everyone is cautious to step forward," he said.
After these trades, the only 20-year-old left on the team is goaltender Andrew Bodnarchuk.
