BRYAN TROTTIER 
SWIFT CURRENT BRONCOS (1972 to 1974) 

A small town Saskatchewan boy, Bryan Trottier was born just south of Swift Current in Val Marie, Saskatchewan. Trottier honed his hockey skills while playing minor hockey in his hometown team, and later with the Climax Midgets and the Swift Current Midget Legionnaires. 

Trottier joined the Broncos for the 1972/73 season in the Western Canada Hockey League. During his first season in Swift Current, Trottier showed glimpses of the success that would come later in his career as he was named the Broncos Rookie-of-the Year. His second season in Swift Current saw Trottier hit the 100-point mark for the first time in his career as he recorded 112 points. Trottier was also drafted in the NHL Amateur Draft following his second season; going 22nd over-all to the New York Islanders. Trottier returned for one more season of junior hockey, though, to play for the Broncos at their new home in Lethbridge, Alberta. During his final season of junior hockey, Trottier scored 46 goals and added 98 assists for 144 points, which ranked second in the league. He was named Most Valuable Player for the WCHL that season, and attended the World Junior Hockey Championships for Canada where he was named team MVP. Trottier made the jump to the NHL in the 1975-76 season with the New York Islanders. Trottier immediately established himself as a rising young star as he collected 95 points (at the time a record for rookies), and was awarded the Calder Trophy for NHL Rookie of the Year. Trottier spent 15 seasons with the Islanders, becoming one of the best forwards to ever play in the NHL. He won the Art Ross Trophy as the league's leading scorer in 1978-79 with 134 points, and was also awarded the Hart Trophy that season as the NHL's Most Valuable Player. Trottier lead the Islanders to their first of four consecutive Stanley Cup titles in 1980, and was handed the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. The line of Trottier, Mike Bossy, and John Tonelli is generally considered to have been the best line in hockey during the Islander dynasty. Following the 1990-91 season, Trottier signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and took on more of a character role, supporting such future stars as Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr. He spent 2 seasons with the Penguins, winning the Stanley Cup both years. Following the second Stanley Cup, Trottier retired as a player to accept a marketing job with the Islanders, but returned to the Penguins in 1993-94 as a player/assistant coach. After one season of playing, Trottier hung up the skates for good in 1994, but remained with the Penguins until 1997 as an assistant coach. In 1997, Trottier became the Head Coach of the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League. He stayed with the Pirates for one season, before returning to the NHL as the assistant coach of the Colorado Avalanche where he stayed for four seasons. In 2001, Trottier was again a part of a Stanley Cup champion as the Avalanche captured the title. Trottier left Colorado in 2002 to accept the Head Coaching job with the New York Rangers, where he stayed until the middle of last season. 

"Trots" finished his playing career with 524 goals, 1425 points, and 6 Stanley Cup titles (more than any other former Bronco). His accomplishments throughout his hockey career have earned him a place in hockey history as one of the all-time greats. Bryan was honored for his career in 1997 when he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame; the first former Bronco ever to receive that honor. Bryan has always been known as a class act, and as a local product, has certainly done southwest Saskatchewan and the Broncos proud. Bryan is a very deserving recipient for induction into the Swift Current Broncos Hall of Fame.

WCHL AWARDS AND HONORS
Miscellaneous: Played on WCHL All-Star Team that faced Team Canada in 1974. 
WCHL MVP: 1974-75 (Lethbridge)
WCHL All-Star First Team: 1974-75 (Lethbridge)
World Junior Championships Team Canada MVP: 1975