The Humboldt Broncos will feature some new faces behind the bench and in the office when the puck drops in September.
On July 2 the team announced that assistant coach Luke Strueby and office manager Noreen Strueby have both left the team. Noreen will be starting a new job with the high school, while Luke is moving north to Pelican Narrows with his fiancée, who is an RCMP officer. Both Struebys had been in their respective positions for only a year.
Brayden Klimosko will be replacing Luke and Kim Brockman will be taking over as the new office manager.
"We're very happy to have both of them on board," said Dean Brockman, Broncos' coach and general manager. "It will give us a nice boost of energy and I'm looking forward to working with them."
Klimosko, like Strueby before him, is a former Bronco, having played for the team from 2006-2008, tallying 84 points in 155 games. Having a former player as his right-hand man makes the transition a bit easier for Brockman.
"Anytime you have a former player they know how you operate," he said. "Losing Luke is a big blow, but adding Brayden is continuing our success of bringing in guys who know how the program operates."
For Brockman, no time of year is ideal to lose such important members of the staff. "This summer is a little more difficult to have that change," Brockman said. "You're setting up your whole season, corporate sales, scheduling, hockey school in August, it's tough. There isn't as much to worry about with the on-ice product, but there's a lot happening off the ice."
The Broncos won't be hitting the ice for a major event until their hockey school, set to run Aug. 26-29. Training camp is scheduled for Sept. 6-8 with the regular season opener at home against the Notre Dame Hounds on Sept. 21.
