Christian Magnus has traveled this road before.

Acquired from the Swift Current Broncos in a 2009 trade deadline blockbuster, he was part of another on Sunday.

This time, the Kootenay Ice have traded him back to the Broncos as part of a deal for fellow centre Cody Eakin.

"I've definitely felt this feeling before," said Magnus. "It's a little different though going back to an old team, that's for sure."

Magnus said he was feeling a mixture of excitement and sadness on Sunday; excitement at taking up with a new club, sadness at leaving his teammates and billet family.

One thing he hadn't been was nervous as the calendar drew closer to this afternoon's trade deadline; he learned as a 16-year-old that he had no control in the situation.

"I thought about it, but if I get traded I get traded," he said. "There's not much you can do."

Ice general manager Jeff Chynoweth was thankful for Magnus's contributions over the last two years.

"He's come a long way as a hockey player, and he's started to make the strides that we knew were in him," said Chynoweth. "It's tough to give up a player like that, but unfortunately when you're making a run, you have to give something up. Unfortunately, he was the roster player that they wanted. They felt comfortable with him."

Swift Current's head scout and assistant GM Jamie Porter had drafted Magnus ninth overall in the 2007 draft.

Magnus had 17 points in 42 games this season, playing largely on Kootenay's third line.

Yesterday was also bittersweet for Kootenay defenceman James Martin, who was part of the 2009 deal that saw John Negrin and Michael Stickland land in Swift Current.

"When I got traded, I was leaving my two best friends on Swift Current," said Martin. "I had to make the decision to stay there and not play or come here and start a whole new life in Cranbrook.

"Mags came with me, and he was with me during that and it was something we shared together. I feel for him leaving: I know that feeling, and it's not good. But at the same time, he's going to get a good chance as a top-six forward there."

Magnus was planning to depart for Swift Current today. He still knows quite a few players and staff members from his rookie campaign when he was 16 years old.

"It seems kind of weird to reunite, I guess," he said.

As for Cranbrook, he'll be back with the Broncos on March 11.

"I had a blast here," said the Saskatoon native. "A great town, a great place to play hockey and just a great team. I had a really good experience here and made a lot of memories."

HISTORY

Sunday's blockbuster was the third time Jeff Chynoweth has orchestrated a trade with the Broncos.

In 2009, Negrin and Stickland headed east in exchange for Martin, Magnus and 2010 draft picks (Tanner Faith and Cole DePape).

In September 2004, the Ice sent Jeremy Schenderling to the Broncos for defenceman Mike Busto.