With a significant turnover on the Swift Current Broncos roster from last season to now, the few remaining players on the roster are set for the opportunity for increased roles.

That is definitely the case for returning defenceman Connor Horning.

Five of the team's top six defencemen from 2018 either signed to pro contracts (Colby Sissons, Josh Anderson), traded (Sahvan Khaira, Jacson Alexander), or still rehabbing an injury (Artyom Minulin).

That leaves Horning among the select few defencemen returning from the team's WHL championship run who saw somewhat steady playing time.

The 6-foot-3, 198-pound Horning played 50 regular season games with the Broncos as a 16-year-old last season, logging seven points (3 G, 4 A). He appeared in 12 playoff contests as well.

Now, despite still being just a 17-year-old, Horning says last year's experiences have prepared him to take on a lot more responsibility in 2018-19.

"It's huge - watching Sizz, Minny, and all those top guys," Horning said of taking in the veterans' tendencies. "Especially down the stretch in the second, third, fourth round - just how they prepared, how they came to the rink every day and worked, and wanted to get better. Watching that and learning off that, and learning off that, I think it's really helped my game."

With the now-veteran WHL resume, the former third round pick of the Broncos in 2016 knows this season will have to call for a different team identity.

"Obviously we lost a lot of guys last year, and a lot of top guys. So, we're not going to be the kind of team that's going to come in here and win games 6-5 and all that," Horning explained, adding that a 5-1 win in the preseason finale was a positive, promising sign of the team's potential.

"Obviously to get five - it's kind of a good feeling for sure."

With the preseason out of the way, and the roster pretty much set for the Broncos, up next is the regular-season opener.

The Broncos host the Saskatoon Blades September 21 at the Innovation Credit Union iPlex.

It's a game that will see the 2018 WHL Champions banner raised to the rafters, joining other all-time great Swift Current Broncos teams who captured league, or Memorial Cup titles.

"So excited - I can't wait," said Horning of the banner raising. "It's a moment I've been kind of waiting for since it kind of happened. I just can't wait."

Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. on Friday, and you can catch all the action live on The Eagle 94.1 for Robertson Family Group Broncos Hockey starting at 6:30.