New Swift Current Broncos defenceman Ryan Pouliot is finding his stride in training camp as one of very few veteran blueliners on the team.

The 20-year-old Pouliot has played in 169 playoff games split over three seasons between Red Deer, and most recently Kootenay.

With four and possibly a fifth defenceman from last year's top-six either traded or not returning, it's by far the most WHL experience in the Broncos' D core a season removed from winning the WHL Championship.

"I'm really excited to be here. Obviously they're coming off a really good season, and hopefully we can have something special like that again this year," said Pouliot. "Me and the guys so far are a really good team, good coaches, so I'm really excited to be here."

After getting traded to the Broncos back in late July, the 6-foot-2, 179-pound Pouliot says he's looking forward to playing in a small hockey-centric city like Swift Current.

"Yeah I talked to a few players and they all said that they really liked it," Pouliot shared. "I used to play with Max Patterson in Kootenay, and I asked him right off the bat when I got traded here. He said he really liked it here - kind of a small-town feel like Cranbrook was, and I loved Cranbrook so I feel like I'll love Swift Current also."

Head coach Dean Brockman nabbed Pouliot from the Kootenay Ice in a move to create veteran depth, and Pouliot says his balanced game should fit in well on the back end in southwest Saskatchewan.

"I like to play a hard-to-play-against defenceman, who likes to play a shutdown role," he noted. "Obviously throw in some big hits every game, and hopefully add some offence also."

Pouliot and the Broncos are into Day 3 of main camp at the iPlex, with the Blue vs White game signalling the end tomorrow.

"I just want to keep bringing it every game here, hopefully my teams ends up winning the championship, and that's all I can think about," he laughed.