For the Calgary Hitmen a big trade with this Swift Current Broncos happened maybe quicker than expected in more ways than one.

The deal was finalized shortly before their game on Saturday causing captain Matteo Gennaro to get pulled from their lineup at the last minute.

“It wasn't supposed to happen how it did,” said Hitmen General Manager Jeff Chynoweth in a media scrum. “Unfortunately it got signed about 30 minutes before the game and obviously didn't want to take the chance to put Matteo out and injure him. It wasn't ideal by any stretch.”

Calgary sent overage forward Matteo Gennaro, 19-year-old power forward Beck Malenstyn and a 2018 5th round bantam draft pick to Swift Current for overage forward Conner Chaulk, 18-year-old defenceman Dom Schmiemann, 17-year-old forward Riley Stotts, NCAA committed prospect Josh Prokop, 15-year-old goaltending prospect Ethan Hein and a 2018 2nd round bantam draft pick.

“We've been talking to 8 to 10 teams over the last couple months about a variety of players,” said Chynoweth. “This just kind of came to fruition in the last 3 or 4 days. It works for both teams and obviously when you make a deal that's what you want to do.”

Selling off two of their top veterans doesn't mean the Hitmen are giving up on making the playoffs. While there is still a month and a half to go before the January 10th trade deadline, Calgary didn't want to wait around when they had an offer from the Broncos they liked.

“You don't want to get too young,” Chynoweth said. “But at the same time this is an opportunity for other guys to step up. When making deals you have to have a dance partner. When you have another team that is interested and it makes sense for you you don't want to pass up because that offer might not be there down the line. It's a fine line from being perceived throwing in the towel and getting too young because you still want to win and develop.”

The first year Calgary GM admitted it was tough giving up on such important parts of their leadership group.

“For me personally just starting here those are two players that really welcomed me with open arms when I spoke to them in the summer,” Chyoweth said. “You can tell the leadership they had and the veteran savvy. For me they're good people. They're going to have success in whatever they do in life. For me they just made the transition that much easier.”

Calgary is expecting Stotts, Chaulk and Schmiemann to all make an impact with them right away and most importantly in the future.

“They're all important,” Chynoweth noted. “We're trying to build around that 2000 age group. Riley Stotts was a first round bantam draft. He put up big numbers in midget and bantam. He hasn't yet at this level, but that's not uncommon for 17-year-old players. The leadership that Conner Chaulk brings is outstanding. Anyone who knows him and his family... lots of character. That's important when you have a younger team. Dom Schmiemann is a top four defenceman. We're going to lose Jake Bean and Vladislav Yeryomenko for a month at the World Juniors coming up. We need someone on the back end who can eat up some minutes.”

Gennaro is expected to make his Broncos debut on Wednesday against Victoria. Malenstyn is out with an upper body injury and should be ready in a couple weeks.