Broncos prospect Dakota Odgers soaks in busy season

It seems Dakota Odgers’ 17-year-old hockey season is never-ending.

When the Regina Pat Canadians knocked Odgers’ main gig – the Yorkton Harvest of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League – out of the playoffs, he went on to join the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League.

“I was really hoping the Harvest could go further in the playoffs this year,” says Odgers, who scored 12 goals and 47 points in 38 games with the Harvest. “We had a very strong finish (12-1-3-1 in last 17 games) and really grew a lot as a team.”

“But I was thrilled to join the Broncos. It was a great experience to get to see how fast and strong some of the players are. It is such a great league. It gave me a taste of what it takes to play in it.”

Odgers' season didn’t end with the Broncos, though. After the Calgary Hitmen gave Swift Current the boot in the first round of the second season, Odgers packed up his bags and headed back to Yorkton to play for the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Terriers.

“We had Dakota play a couple games with us during the year and saw him play with the Harvest, so we didn’t hesitate to put him in our lineup because we knew what he could do,” says Terriers head coach Trent Cassan. “He’s a very talented player that plays hard at both ends of the ice. Those players aren’t always easy to find.”

The 5-foot-11, 187-pound forward’s older brother, Johnny Odgers, helped ease him into the Terriers’ dressing room and has given him pointers along the way.

“It’s great to have my brother on the team,” says Odgers. “He has really made it easy to join the team and he has helped me with things on the ice.”

“We are very close brothers,” says Johnny Odgers. “I try to help him and guide him as much as I can. But he’s a really smart and good hockey player. He catches on very quickly.”

The Spy Hill, SK., native, who is the son of former NHLer Jeff Odgers, hasn’t gone unnoticed in the Terriers’ playoff run. He has contributed as a physical threat, but more importantly an offensive weapon, scoring four goals and two assists in six games.

“I’ve been working hard, but I’ve also had some puck luck around the net,” says Odgers. “And my linemates Tayler Thompson and Patrick Martens have made things easier on me. They feed me the puck when I’m open and put themselves in the right spot at the right time.”

After knocking off the Estevan Bruins and Melville Millionaires, the Terriers are battling the Humboldt Broncos for the Canalta Cup. Tied at two, the series has been a back-and-forth matchup to say the least.

“The Broncos are a really good team, but so are we,” says Odgers, who turned 17 on April 1. “We both have great goaltending and just complete teams. It will take some strong efforts in this now best of three, but I know we can do it.”

Odgers believes the experience he has gained with the Harvest, Broncos and Terriers is invaluable. Therefore, he stands behind his decision in September to leave the Broncos for the Harvest for long-term development reasons.

“This year I’ve really learned a lot with all of this valuable experience,” he says. “You can’t put a price on that. If I would have stayed with Swift Current, I wouldn’t have got the ice time like I did with the Harvest and I wouldn’t be in the SJHL finals with the Terriers either. I like how I’ve grown as a player this year, so I’m comfortable with my decision to come back to the Harvest. In the big picture, I think I made the right move.”

As for next year, there is no doubt in Odgers' mind that he wants to be a full-time Bronco.

“I know I want to be in Swift Current next year and make an impact,” he says. “I know I’m ready to make that jump.”

But just because he made the team last September, doesn’t mean Odgers is going to take the training camp lightly this year.

“I can’t view it as I made it last year, so I’m a lock this year,” says Swift Current's 24th overall bantam pick of 2011. “I’m going to work hard in the offseason to make the team. I’m going back to the farm in Spy Hill and am going to work hard with weights and running. I’m also going down to Minnesota for a hockey camp to do some on-ice training.”

Kelly Friesen is a Buzzing the Net columnist for Yahoo! Sports. Follow him on Twitter @KellyFriesen