Salmon Arm’s Sebastien Archambault is grateful for the opportunity to play Junior A level hockey this season and honoured to be playing it with the Humboldt Broncos.
Coming off two seasons with the Sicamous Eagles, Archambault says he knows there will be more eyes on him joining the Broncos compared to other Junior A teams, but won’t let the added pressure get to him. The 19-year-old defenseman said he is good at keeping composed, and the added attention is just more incentive to be a good representative of the team both on and off the ice.
The Broncos received international attention after the team was involved in an April 2018 bus collision that left 16 people dead, including 10 players, and 13 othrs were injured.
Over the course of the 2018/19 season, Archambault amassed 7 goals and 12 assists, playing a critical role for the Eagles defence. He got a call from the Broncos inviting him to their spring camp. Archambault made the 14-hour drive to attend the camp where he said the coaching staff liked the way he played and offered him a spot on the roster.
Archambault said he’d heard about the good reputation of Humboldt, and other small Saskatchewan towns that are home to Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) teams, from acquaintances who have played in the league. “I definitely think it will be an unreal environment,” Archambault said. “Like most people from Saskatchewan and small towns, they’re very supportive. And with the tragedy that happened, I think that will only bring people together more and make them more supporting. That’s why I feel it will be a geat environment.”
Archambault said his objective has always been to play hockey at the highest level possible. He said he tried to get on the Salmon Arm Silverbacks for the past two years but hasn’t been able to get on a Jnuior A squad until now. He said the Eagles provided a good opportunity to develop his hockey skills while also staying close to home in Salmon Arm while finishing school.
With only a few days before his departure for Saskatchewan to join the Broncos’ main camp and get ready for the season, Archambault said he thinks the SJHL will provide tough competition. He added the team’s coaching staff has seemed very good so far. The Broncos open pre-season play against the Kindersley Klippers on Sep. 2 in Humboldt.