Wednesday night Saskatoon Blades netminder Brock Hamm made 39 saves in a 4-3 win over his former Humboldt coach, Ryan Smith and the Swift Current Broncos.

The former Broncos' puck stopper is quick to credit his Western Hockey League success to his half a season with the green and gold.

"They were a great group of guys there and they definitely helped develop me and my game," the 18 year-old said from the Blades bench in an empty Sasktel Centre following his first star performance. "As much as I wanted to get this level it was definitely tough saying goodbye to those guys. I made a lot of great friends that are still there that I still keep in touch with so it was definitely something that benefited me."

Hamm cracked the Broncos as a 17 year-old and was phenomenal in his lone half a season playing 21 games while posting a 2.72 goals against average as well as a sparkling .918 save percentage.

The speculation was always there through the first half of Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League season that with those numbers and Hamm's raw talent that the WHL may come calling and it just so happened the man who was responsible for getting Hamm to Humboldt after listing him from the Saskatoon Contacts was Dean Brockman. The Broncos' former General Manager and Head Coach.

Hamm joined him with the Blades that Christmas.

"He's an outstanding coach, I have never got to know a coach as good as him. He is great with his players, he is always there for you. You can always go to him with anything, now I realize why Humboldt didn't want him to leave after all he did there. He has a big impact on all his players."

Hamm, who will celebrate his 19th birthday on February 24th got into 16 games last year with the rebuilding Blades recording a 3.73 GAA with a .902 SP. Those numbers have jumped to 43 games played, a GAA of 3.95 and a SP of .883.

When the news broke of Hamm's promotion there immediately was the naysayers that questioned his decision to make the jump, on the other hand is the eligibility factor of playing Junior "A" which could result in a scholarship to a American school where Hamm could have followed the likes of Ryland Pashovitz, Matt Hrynkiw, Andrew Bodnarchuk and Taylor Nelson but growing up and attending Blades games himself with his grandparent and parents, the Sasktel Centre and the Blades has been his goal since he first put on pads.

"Yeah, it's definitely a dream. Being a little kid and having my birthday parties here and having Mike Green come down and sign my jersey and cards, it's such a cool thing to be a part of."

The Blades will look to continue their playoff push on Friday in a rematch with the Swift Current Broncos on Friday night.

You can hear much more from Hamm in his interview with Bolt FM's Clark Stork below.