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WHL Moose Jaw Warriors

Firkus Gaining Confidence with Each Goal this Season

January 21, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Moose Jaw Warriors News Release


With his two goals in Wednesday's 8-2 win, Jagger Firkus has now moved into the top-five in the Western Hockey League in goals scored.

The 2022 NHL Draft eligible forward has 23 goals through 38 games this season and has only been picking up steam over the past month.

"Scoring goals helps my team win, that's my job on this team, I've got to help put the puck in the net and I've been doing that lately, so it's a good thing," Firkus said.

Firkus sits just two goals behind the WHL lead; he leads the Warriors in goals and points.

He's scored in seven of last nine games and has points in ten of his last 11 games.

In his second year in the WHL, Firkus said he's getting more confident in his shot.

"I like my shot, I like my release, I like to use it, I'm not shy of shooting the puck, that's for sure," Firkus said.

Warriors head coach Mark O'Leary has noticed Firkus' growing confidence with the puck and encourages him to keep shooting.

"That's the way goal scorers are, when they're hot, they're hot and he's scored some real nice goals, it gets in the net in a hurry and when you find success, why change it," he said.

Firkus has a pair of hat tricks this season, the first coming on Nov. 5 in Lethbridge and then he did it again on Dec. 28 on home ice against Edmonton.

The Irma, AB product has five games with multiple goals this season. He also has 12 multi-point games this season, seven of those coming in his last 15 games.

Since Dec. 3, he has points in 13 of 15 games.

"He's pretty hot right now, so I'm just trying to get him the puck," Firkus' linemate Brayden Yager said.

Yager and Firkus have played on a line together for most of the past two seasons and their chemistry has played a big part in the success the two players have seen this season.

"Our chemistry is not just on the ice, it's off the ice as well, " Yager said. "We hang out lots and that translates into games for the team."

Firkus credits Yager with helping him to push his game to another level.

"He's an unreal player, he's really easy to play with, we have a good connection on and off the ice, so it's a huge thing and hopefully we can keep succeeding," Firkus said.

While Firkus' offensive numbers have been eye-catching recently, O'Leary said his play all over the ice has been improving.

"He's doing the little things that allows him to have the puck," he said. "When he's at his best, he's around the puck, he's hard to play against, he has a bit of a nasty side to him, but he has all kinds of skill."

Firkus will lead the Warriors into their three-game Alberta road trip over the next four days. Moose Jaw heads into Red Deer on Saturday night, they travel to Calgary on Sunday afternoon and then finish up in Edmonton on Tuesday.

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 21, 2022


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