The Swift Current Broncos appear to have killed two birds with one stone today.

They made a deal to add forward depth to their roster, while also seemingly making their choice for back-up goaltender this season.

Swift Current sent 18-year-old goaltender Bailey Brkin and a conditional 5th round WHL Bantam Draft selection to the Kootenay Ice for 18-year-old forward Max Patterson.

The move appears to clear the way for 17-year-old Joel Hofer to assume back-up duties with the Broncos this season.

Patterson joins the Broncos after putting up 8 goals and 7 assists in 63 games for Kootenay last season.

"We certainly feel we've got a player that can help us out immediately," said Broncos Head Coach and Director of Player Personnel Manny Viveiros. "We feel we're going to have him for a couple years at least. We feel he has some untapped potential. He's a big, big young man and goes to the dirty areas. We're excited we're adding a little bit of size to our right wing and we think he can help us out."

Click here for the full interview with Manny Viveiros

The Kamloops native is listed as 6'5 and 204lbs. He is off to a good start this pre-season with 2 goals in 3 games.

Patterson was a 4th round pick of the Ice in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft. He had 57 points in 57 games in Bantam A1-T1 that season.

As a 15-year-old he split time between the Midget Prep Okanagan Hockey Academy and the Jr. B KIJHL Kamloops Storm. With the Storm, Patterson has an impressive playoff run putting up 8 points in 7 games as an underage player.

He made the jump the WHL as a 16-year-old and managed to score 7 goals as a rookie in 64 games. He added 15 points last season as the Ice struggled significantly during his time in Kootenay.

"We're looking for him to be a guy who can make his presence in the offensize zone in front of the net," Viveiros said. "He can go to those dirty areas and bang in some of those goals playing with some pretty good players up front. We're not expecting him to come in and get 30-40 goals. We want him to come in and contribute offensively, but more importantly come in and be part of our group and the identity of our hockey club."

The Broncos had signed Brkin last season after an impressive training camp. He had put up a strong 0.915 save percentage on a weak Coeur d'Alene Midget prep team in the 2015-16 season.

Brkin then spent last season with the AJHL's Calgary Mustangs where he had an 0.890 save percentage while  playing 42 games for another struggling team.

The Ice believe he could crack their roster this season.

“We look forward to Bailey joining our team, we believe he is ready to play in the Western Hockey League and he will have an opportunity on our roster,” said Matt Cockell, President and General Manager on kootenayice.net. “The organization wishes Max the best of luck in Swift Current.”

Brkin's departure leaves only veteran Taz Burman and rookie Joel Hofer as goaltenders on Swift Current's roster.

"You have to give things up to get," Viveiros said. "We had to give up a pretty good prospect in Bailey Brkin, but we're very pleased with the way Joel Hofer has come along in camp. Joel is one year younger too and it's a good time to get him ready. I think he's ready to be a #2 goalie in this league."

Hofer is a 17-year-old from Winnipeg who has been playing for the Pursuit of Excellence prep-school in BC. He had a 2.86 goals against average and 0.915 save percentage for the Midget Prep team last seasson and a 3.10 GAA and 0.883 save percentage for the 18U team.

Hofer picked up several league awards in 2015-16 including the CSSVHL Best GAA (1.74), Best SVS% (0.937) and Top Goaltender.

"We just saw how much he matured from last season not only physically but as a young man too," Viveiros said. "His fitness test was off the charts for a goaltender. He's a very, very athletic goaltender. Just a raw talent that we have something to work with."

The Broncos wrap up their pre-season tonight at Fairview West Arena against the Lethbridge Hurricanes. The game is free of charge and first-come first-serve for fans. You can also listen live on The Eagle 94.1 FM with Robertson Family Group Broncos Hockey at 6:30pm.