SWIFT CURRENT \u2014 The Swift Current Broncos don\u2019t often hold media availabilities to address issues away from the ice, but on Thursday the organization felt it was necessary.<\/p>\n
With the team navigating an already challenging season, the Broncos gathered reporters to publicly express their support for the coaching staff and respond to anonymous online criticism that has circulated in recent weeks. Those comments, shared primarily on social media, have questioned the team\u2019s direction, the conduct of its coaches, and alleged favouritism toward the sons of staff members currently behind the bench.<\/p>\n
If there was any doubt about where the franchise stands, Broncos chairman of the board Trent McLeary quickly removed it.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn behalf of the Swift Current Broncos board of directors, we would like to provide an update on the current state of the organization and express our full support for the coaching staff.\u201d<\/p>\n
That support comes during a season already rocked by upheaval. On November 14, head coach Dean DeSilva resigned after a WHL investigation determined he breached league standards of conduct during two separate on-ice incidents while administering discipline. The league issued a five-game suspension to DeSilva and fined the Broncos $10,000.<\/p>\n
In the aftermath, assistant coach Regan Darby was thrust into the role of interim head coach, with Travis Moen remaining on staff as an assistant. Neither,\u00a0McLeary stressed, signed up for what followed.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven the level of coaching turnover we have experienced in the past several seasons, the board felt it was essential to prioritize stability for our players, staff and the fans moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stability, however, doesn\u2019t shield people from social media.<\/p>\n
McLeary acknowledged that Darby and Moen have faced significant online criticism, much of it questioning motives rather than methods. Some of it has targeted the presence of their sons on the roster. And that, McLeary said, is where the organization felt compelled to step in.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve been taking some flak from certain fans online and social media, which is absolutely unwarranted. If people have a problem with the way they coach, they can always come to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
McLeary leaned heavily on credibility — Moen\u2019s nearly 750 NHL games and Stanley Cup ring. Darby has eight years of professional hockey experience across multiple leagues and continents. Their reputations were built long before they ever wore a Broncos coach’s\u00a0logo.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are respected in the hockey world, and they\u2019re respected for their game off the ice,\u201d McLeary said. \u201cThey\u2019re solid character people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Broncos’ general manager Chad Leslie followed with perhaps the most direct rebuttal to the accusations circulating online.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt no point did either individual lobby for or request the inclusion of their respective sons on this team. All decisions related to player personnel fall under my authority.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leslie detailed those decisions.<\/p>\n
Carter Moen, he noted, is a first-round pick and a cornerstone of the organization\u2019s young core. Hudson Darby was acquired for his experience \u2014 118 regular-season games and 33 playoff games with Portland \u2014 and for what he could provide to a transitioning roster.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom a hockey perspective, Hudson\u2019s experience has been exactly what our young club required,\u201d Leslie said. \u201cHe has exceeded expectations within his role.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leslie also pointed out that four local players currently wear Broncos jerseys \u2014 something the organization views as a point of pride, not suspicion.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur 1989 Memorial Cup championship team also featured four local players. We believe strong local representation is something to be celebrated and is an important part of our organization\u2019s history and identity.\u201d<\/p>\n
The message from both men was consistent: this was not about reacting to a single comment or post. It was about protecting people, according to McLeary.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wanted to show our support for them. Show our support for the players that we have, and that they\u2019re valued commodities. They\u2019re valued pieces of our community and of our organization.\u201d<\/p>\n
McLeary was asked if the criticism had reached another level.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe, but we\u00a0want to support our people. We want to put that to bed.\u201d<\/p>\n
The board also addressed the future, confirming a full-time head coach search will take place in the summer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t want to rush and hire somebody that might not be the right fit,\u201d McLeary said. \u201cWe want to make sure everything\u2019s very thoughtful and transparent.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the meantime, Leslie and the Broncos are leaning into support \u2014 not just publicly, but structurally. Third-party reviews of operations. Senior NHL-level advisors. Mental performance coaching. And direct input from experienced NHL minds, including Calgary Flames head coach Ryan Huska.<\/p>\n
\u201cCoaches need to be coached too.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for the local players caught in the middle of the noise, McLeary didn\u2019t shy away from how difficult that can be in a small market.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard for the kids, for their parents, for everyone involved, but the majority want you to succeed. We\u2019re proud of you.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a league where teams often let results speak for themselves, the Swift Current Broncos chose words instead.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"SWIFT CURRENT \u2014 The Swift Current Broncos don\u2019t often hold media availabilities to address issues away from the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":432045,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[437],"tags":[49,48,521,522,520,82,179848],"class_list":{"0":"post-432044","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cfl","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-canadian-football-league","11":"tag-canadianfootballleague","12":"tag-cfl","13":"tag-sports","14":"tag-whlswift-current-broncostrent-mclearychad-leslie"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/432044","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=432044"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/432044\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/432045"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=432044"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=432044"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=432044"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}