The Kimberley Dynamiters have been very forward thinking, having traded for or signed skaters of that ilk recently.

Through a couple of trades, goaltender Wes McLeod turned into Mark Strachan and Stefan Burzan, while financial considerations led to the homecoming of Brennan Foreman.

Kimberley's Brett Luker also signed with the KIJHL club for next year.

Team general manager Rick Allen said having former NHLer Roman Vopat behind the bench should pay dividends for those very forwards.

"Roman was a gritty player, and he was a goal-scorer in junior and he knew where he had to go to score," said Allen. "For guys like Brett, I see a godsend to be able to work with a guy like Roman. It's going to develop his game so much more."

Allen said Luker improved in leaps and bounds last year, playing particularly well once his role was defined. He saw lots of ice as a penalty killer, and collected 13 points and 116 penalty minutes with Kimberley.

Now that role will get even larger.

Luker is prolific in practice, and Allen said he'd like to see more of that offensive touch in games this year.

"He has the foot speed and the hands, he definitely has the smarts to involve himself more in our offence," said Allen. "He should be a guy who can have 15 or 20 goals this year."

Foreman, meanwhile, comes back via trade with the Creston Valley Thundercats.

Now entering his fourth full year in the league, Foreman started last season with Kimberley, was traded to the Nelson Leafs and then to Creston.

"It's great. I didn't think I was going to be able to come back this year, but thanks to (Allen) and all those guys, they made it possible," said Foreman. "It means a lot to play back here again. I'm pretty excited for it."

He had 28 points last season, and is happy to work with Vopat and older brother Jordan Foreman, who started last season as an assistant and wound up as the interim head coach.

"Last year was kind of a write-off, so I didn't get much time with him," said Brennan. "As it stands right now, it's pretty exciting. When he heard I got traded back, he was pretty pumped for me. It should be a fun year."

Allen said he was excited to have Foreman back for his final year of junior eligibility.

"I told him I want him to be a positive role model for our kids, just like he had role models for himself four years ago when he became part of the team," said Allen. "Sometimes guys lose that and focus on doing their own thing."

The GM plans to keep just three of the allotted four overagers next season, putting an even bigger onus on Foreman to lead.

"My goal is to lead the team to a championship this year, and I'll stop at nothing to accomplish that," said the Marysville native.

Elsewhere, Allen sent McLeod to the Mission Icebreakers for the rights to F Daniel Higgs. The Fernie Ghostriders were besotted with Higgs, and worked out a deal that saw the overage Strachan and 17-year-old Burzan join the Nitros.

"(Strachan is) a versatile guy, can play forward or defence. I thought he was one of their smartest players all year long," said Allen.

The Calgarian scored 11 goals on the way to 28 points last season.

A native of Surrey, Burzan got into 20 games last year and is a list player with the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds.

"We'll see what happens with him, but I've had chats with Mark and he's excited about coming here. I can't tell you how happy I am," said Allen. "I don't know if Will (Verner, Fernie's GM) would say the same thing, that he's happy, because when we'd start a conversation, I wouldn't get off Strachan."

Strachan had been one of nine 1991-born players on Fernie's roster last season. They can keep up to four for the upcoming campaign.