It has been over a month since Brayden Klimosko was named the new Head Coach and General Manager of the Humboldt Broncos, but the feeling still hasn’t sunk in quite yet for the local product.
With training camp set to open next weekend, a whirlwind summer will soon end for Klimosko, one that has found himself back in the place where he grew up.
When the announcement was made in late June that Scott Barney would be stepping down from the Broncos to accept the position of the Head Coach of the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Klimosko said it was a battle of emotions for him to make the decision to pursue the Broncos head coach position after him and his family integrated themselves with the community in Battlefords during his six seasons at the helm of the North Stars.
“I think people would think that it’s a no brainer to come home,” said Klimosko. “But it’s not quite like that, I’ve been there for six years, had a lot of success and they treated me so well, so it wasn’t even easy thinking about putting your name out there.”
As a player, Klimosko spent three seasons with the Broncos (2005-08) and helped the team win a pair of SJHL titles along with a national championship in 2008.
Following his on-ice career, Klimosko began his coaching as an assistant coach with the Broncos, apprenticing under leadership of Dean Brockman, Ryan Smith and Darcy Haugen. He spent one season in Drumheller of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) before returning to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) with Battlefords. During his venture away from his hometown, the 36-year-old said he gained valuable coaching knowledge.
“You learn every year, you learn from every experience,” explained Klimosko, “I think you continue to grow.”
He acknowledged that each stop on his coaching trail provided new challenges both as a coach and as a person.
“Feel like whenever you’re growing, it’s good for the body and it’s good for the mind.”
Klimosko padded his coaching resume before returning to Humboldt, with a pair of SJHL championships and three SJHL Coach of the Year awards. The Broncos Head Coach and General Manager believes he was able forge his own identity by leaving home and now can bring a fresh perspective to the organization.
One of the main responsibilities of a head coach of a junior hockey league is to immerse themselves in the community. For Klimosko, over the past few weeks, it has been quite enjoyable to reacquaint himself with familiar faces.
“I tell you the stops in Tim Horton’s have been slower than use to be,” said Klimosko, “everyone is relatively excited for the chance to see me back which makes it so humbling for me that people are seemingly generally excited to have this opportunity.”
Klimosko is also eager to work alongside the team’s assistant coach Carter Hansen, who is returning for another year with the Broncos.
“He’s (Hansen) is elite at what he does, the one thing I wanted to make sure to tell him, keep doing your thing, because it’s only a matter of time before he’s moving on as well.”
With the Broncos set to embark on the 2024-25 season, Klimosko is geared up for his new role after a busy summer.
“At this point, I’m just ready to get to work.”
The Broncos will begin training camp on Friday, August 30, with sessions throughout the weekend, wrapping up with the green and gold game on Sunday, September 1, at 1:00 pm.
To open the preseason, Humboldt will meet the Kindersley Klippers in a home and home affair. The Broncos will travel to Kindersley on Friday, September 6. With the two teams set to battle at the Elgar Petersen Arena on Saturday, September 7.
You can listen to Klimosko's interview Bolt FM's Blaine Weyland below