One of the WHL's hottest players is looking south.
Swift Current Broncos forward Brady Birnie has committed to play for the NCAA's Bemidji State men's hockey program.
The school did not announce when Birnie would make the jump to the NCAA.
Excited to announce another signee from the WHL, welcome to #BeaverTerritory Brady Birnie from @SCBroncos!!#GoBeavers pic.twitter.com/y6NgLPET8w
— Bemidji State Men’s Hockey (@BSUBeaversMHKY) November 17, 2024
Swift Current Online has learned he could join the Ducks as soon as the 2025-26 season, but he would also have the opportunity to defer to 2026-27 and finish out his WHL eligibility before the move.
Birnie is also still eligible for the NHL draft in the spring and could still sign a professional contract this summer.
This commitment is part of a new wrinkle in junior hockey as the NCAA has opened the door to Canada Hockey League players. The governing body to American university hockey had previously ruled major junior hockey players ineligible.
Birnie is having a breakout season. He sits 11th in the WHL points race with 14 goals and 16 assists in 19 games this season.
The Regina native has played 225 games and scored 134 points for Swift Current since being the team's first round pick in the 2020 WHL Draft.
Birnie would be eligible to play one more WHL season depending on his status with Bemidji State and any potential professional opportunities.
He has 20 points in his last 10 game as the Broncos have gone 9-1 in that stretch. Swift Current sits two points back of first place in the WHL's Eastern Conference.
The Broncos host a Tri-City Americans club on Tuesday that had won 12 games in a row before losses in Prince Albert and Saskatoon over the weekend.