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Brooks DeMars. (Photo from @PentictonVees on X)
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Brooks DeMars. (Photo from @PentictonVees on X)
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Swift Current's WHL draft pick cupboard just got fuller.

The Penticton Vees announced today they've signed American forward Brooks “Boomer” DeMars to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.

Swift Current had moved DeMars' rights to the Vees as a part of the Brady Birnie deal before the recent expansion draft.

The Broncos received a conditional 2028 WHL Prospects Draft pick in return. It was an 8th round pick that could become a 1st round pick if DeMars reports to the Vees.

"It was a situation where there was not a high likelihood that he was going to come to Swift Current," Broncos GM Chad Leslie told Swift Current Online at the time of the deal. "Penticton I think is going to do a great job in our league with their resources, their connections with the NCAA, and some American players. Their director of scouting had a relationship with Boomer (DeMars), and so they felt there was an opportunity to grab the player of that caliber that potentially wasn't coming to us."

DeMars had 69 points in 50 games for the Long Island Gulls 15U AAA team and 15 points in 15 games for their 16U AAA team. Swift Current had added him to their protected list when he wasn't picked in the 2024 WHL drafts. 

“Boomer is a skilled two-way forward we projected as a first-round talent in his WHL Draft year,” said Fred Harbinson, President, General Manager, and Head Coach of the Vees in a team release. “He’s among the top players in his age group in the U.S. and will be a key part of what we’re building over the next three to four years.”

Swift Current acquired a 2025 4th round pick (Tanner Massey), a 2026 2nd round pick, Penticton’s 1st round pick in 2027, a 5th round pick in 2028, and the conditional 2028 pick in the deal for Birnie and DeMars.

The Vees also agreed to pick Shaunavon native Nolan Stevenson from the Broncos in the expansion draft.

Today's signing should mean the Broncos added a total of four 1st round picks and a host of other draft capital in several deals on WHL draft week.

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