Raiders captain Eric Johnston is on his way to Swift Current after being traded to the Broncos on Thursday. (Mark Peterson/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Logan Lehmann

Trade

Raiders trade captain Johnston to Broncos for draft pick

Jul 25, 2024 | 10:38 AM

The Prince Albert Raiders and Swift Current Broncos struck a one-for-one deal on Thursday.

The Raiders are sending overage captain Eric Johnston to Speedy Creek in exchange for a 2028 third round pick.

The trade comes a day after P.A. acquired Lukas Dragicevic in a monster trade with the Tri-City Americans.

With Johnston having served last season as the club’s captain, Raiders General Manager Curtis Hunt shared his thoughts on the move.

“This was a tough one to make because he’s such a quality person,” he said in a release.

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“Eric was a great leader for us. Unfortunately, we can only carry three overage players. We’re excited for the opportunity that lies ahead for him, and we’re going to see him quite a bit at the Hauser over the next year. We wish him nothing but the best of luck.”

Johnston joined the Raiders in the 2021-22 season as part of the deal that sent Kaiden Guhle to the Oil Kings. In 192 career games, the Regina product has donned the Raiders’ Green and Gold for 172 of those contests, scoring 46 of his 50 career points with Prince Albert.

In 10 career playoff games, all with the Raiders, he’s managed one goal and one assist.

P.A. and Swift Current have their first meeting of next season on Sept. 28, when the Raiders visit the Broncos at the InnovationPlex.

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Also on Thursday, the Raiders announced the departure of goaltending coach Kelly Guard, who has been hired as the goalie coach for the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton Oilers affiliate).

Guard joined the club as a goalie coach in the 2012-13 season and was an assistant coach from 2014-16.

“It’s always a feather in the organization’s cap when we’re not just able to develop players and help them move on to the next level, but coaches as well,” said Raiders General Manager Curtis Hunt in a release.

“With Kelly Guard and his opportunity, we’re really excited for him and what lies ahead. We can’t wait to see how his career continues to grow and develop.”

Before becoming a coach, Guard, who hails from Prince Albert, played two seasons in the WHL winning the WHL Championship in 2003 and Memorial Cup in 2004 with the Kelowna Rockets. Since then as a coach, Guard has won a pair of international gold medals, including at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2022 and at the World Junior tournament in 2023.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com