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WHL Moose Jaw Warriors

Connor Ungar with Lights Out Start to WHL Playoffs

April 3, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Moose Jaw Warriors News Release


Moose Jaw, SK - Connor Ungar is taking it one game, one period and one shot at a time so far in the 2023 WHL Playoffs.

The 20-year-old goaltender allowed just two goals over eight periods of hockey over the weekend as the Moose Jaw Warriors built up a 2-0 lead in their first round series against the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

"Playoffs is an exciting time and to win on that stage is just even better, so hopefully we can keep that going," Ungar said after practice on Monday.

Ungar made 50 saves in the Warriors' 2-1 double overtime win in Game 1 on Friday and then needed to make just 21 saves as Moose Jaw cruised to a 5-1 win in Game 2 on Saturday.

Warriors captain Denton Mateychuk said Ungar's play gives the team confidence.

"He's been great, he's a great goaltender and a great guy and we're really happy to have him back," he said. "He's playing out of his mind, that's awesome to see out of your goaltender, it gives everybody on the ice confidence.

"When you're seeing a guy work that hard and make all those plays, helping the team, it makes other guys want to do that."

After missing the final 17 games of the regular season, Ungar didn't look like he missed a beat in his first game action as the Warriors battled the Hurricanes into double overtime.

He said it comes down to staying focused on one thing at a time.

"It's one period, one shift, one shot at a time, it's really that simple," Ungar said. "You just have to work on staying in the moment and just staying focused on the immediate task at hand."

Ungar finished with the second-best save percentage in the regular season at 0.925 per cent. His 26 wins were also sixth in the league, despite playing less games than four of the five goalies ahead of him.

He said his focused mindset has helped him pick right up where he left off during the regular season.

"It goes back to just worrying about one thing at a time, you don't overthink anything,' Ungar said. "You just want to keep your game simple and that can be just one shot at a time."

The Warriors put together a strong defensive effort in Saturday's 5-1 win in Game 2, holding the Hurricanes to just 22 shots.

Ungar came up with a couple of highlight reel saves during one stretch in the second period to help keep Moose Jaw in front.

"The team was as good as I've seen [in the first two games of the series]," Ungar said. "They blocked a lot of shots, won a lot of battles in our and I can't ask much more from them."

As the team prepares to head out on the road for games three and four on Tuesday and Wednesday, Ungar said the focus remains the same.

"One period at a time, just that simple," he said.

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