Since he played for the Battlefords North Stars in the 2015-16 season, forward Tanner Nagel has seen his hockey career take him to Portland, Oregon and Lethbridge, Alta.
Now in his third season in the Western Hockey League, the 20 year old from Mossbank is back in his home province and gearing up for the playoffs with the Swift Current Broncos.
“I’m just an hour away from home so I get to see my family quite often, plus my girlfriend is in Swift Current along with a number of my close friends,” Nagel said.
“It’s very exciting to be playing close to home, especially with a really good team in Swift Current. I’ve made a lot of new friends here already and I’m having a lot of fun.”
After being a part of the Lethbridge Hurricanes run to the Eastern Conference final last season, Nagel was in his second season with the team this year and had eight points in 35 games while serving as an assistant captain.
He was then dealt to the Broncos on January 9 in a blockbuster trade alongside overage forward Giorgio Estephan and Edmonton Oilers goaltending prospect Stuart Skinner.
“It made things easier on all of us as we went through the process together and we were able to lean on each other a little bit as we got used to things in Swift Current,” Nagel said.
In addition to putting up three points in 22 games, Nagel has had a front-row seat to one of the most talented teams in the entire country, as the Broncos are led by a dangerous offensive trio of Glenn Gawdin, Aleksi Heponiemi and Tyler Steenbergen.
“Playing against them in the first half of the season, you could see how skilled they were, but the little things these guys do in practice really stands out as they get ready for games,” Nagel said.
“It’s not just those three though. They had a number of great players here already and it didn’t take long for us to mesh with everyone, along with Josh Anderson, Matteo Gennaro, Beck Malenstyn and the other guys they’ve brought in here.”
After finishing second in the East Division with a 48-17-5-2 record and posting the second most points in the WHL behind the Moose Jaw Warriors, the Broncos are now gearing up for a first playoff matchup with the Memorial Cup host Regina Pats.
“There’s great teams all over the league but the teams in the East Division have been strong all year and you have to be ready for those challenges every night,” Nagel said.
“Having gone on a long run with Lethbridge last year, I have a better idea of what it takes to be successful in a totally different season. Everything gets faster out on the ice and you need to make sure you lock it down on defence. It’s not the pretty play that wins games in the playoffs, and I think the defensive role that I’ve been playing here and the improvements I’ve made in that part of the game since I’ve been in the WHL is something that I’m looking to excel in to help the team go for the title.”
The best-of-seven series begins Friday in Swift Current.
