(Graphic courtesy/Humboldt Broncos)

By Ben Tompkins

Coaching Change

Klimosko to coach hometown Humboldt Broncos

Jul 18, 2024 | 9:35 AM

Brayden Klimosko has agreed to join the Humboldt Broncos as their new head coach and general manager.

The long-time head coach of the Battlefords North Stars agreed to take over the position of his hometown team, following Scott Barney’s departure to the OHL.

“Humboldt is home for me, so I’m just excited to be back there,” Klimosko told northeastNOW. “It’s big shoes to fill for the Broncos, Barney has done a great job there. We have a lot of similarities in the way we coach and treat our players, so I’m just trying to mirror what he was able to do here.”

Klimosko brings in plenty of his own successes, achieving 199 regular season wins with the North Stars, two SJHL Championships, and a National silver medal.

He also bolstered a 33-11-3 postseason record with the club and is a three-time SJHL Coach of the Year and one-time CJHL Coach of the Year.

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“The North Stars organization was unbelievable, they gave me my first opportunity to be a head coach, so I can’t thank them enough. The community and everyone around there treated me and my family with so much respect and really welcomed us into their home. Throughout the six years there, it’s been nothing but great things,” Klimosko added.

The 36-year-old previously served as an assistant coach in Humboldt, from 2013 until 2016.

He also had a playing stint with them, in which he helped them win the 2008 RBC Cup.

“I’d obviously love to replicate that success with them as a coach. You hope to have that opportunity and we’ll see where this season goes. It would obviously be a dream come true, so I look forward to putting in some work here and trying to make that happen this upcoming season,” explained Klimosko.

“This roster is in a good spot for next year and hopefully everyone comes back and we can make a good run for it… being an assistant here earlier, this was always a place I knew I’d love to be one day, and now that it’s aligned, I’m excited about it.”

The Humboldt Broncos and Battlefords North Stars will see each other a total of eight times during the regular season, with the first matchup set for October 11 in North Battleford.

Klimosko acknowledged it will likely be a bit awkward being on the ‘wrong side’ of the bench at the ACC and isn’t expecting any sort of ‘ceremony or tribute video’, as he feels the team gave more to him than he gave them.

The North Stars don’t seem to share those thoughts, as they spoke about his time in the Battlefords in a press release.

“It’s always hard to lose an incredible coach like Brayden, we wish nothing but the best for him and his family and thank him for the six outstanding years he gave the club,” read a quote from their President and GM, Kyle Kellgren.

(Graphic courtesy/Battlefords North Stars)

The North Stars have since posted an opening for a new head coach and general manager on their website. The deadline to apply is July 21.

Meanwhile, the Broncos and Humboldt welcomed their new bench boss to town.

“The Humboldt Broncos organization are thrilled that we have hired Brayden as the Head Coach and GM. There were many worthy applicants, and after looking at each one from different angles, no one stood out more than Brayden to represent our logo. We have every belief that he will produce an exceptional team that our community will love to watch and cheer for on the ice. Along with Assistant Coach, Carter Hansen, we look forward to the upcoming season,” said Broncos President, Amanda Schlachter.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

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