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WHL Moose Jaw Warriors

Firkus Powers Warriors Past Raiders on Friday

January 5, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Moose Jaw Warriors News Release


Moose Jaw, SK - Jagger Firkus' first game back in the Hangar since representing Canada at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship was a doozy.

Firkus finished with a goal and four points to help propel the Warriors to a 6-4 win over the Prince Albert Raiders on Friday night.

"It wasn't the cleanest game by us, there was ups and downs throughout the whole game, but hockey is adversity and it's good, it shows character that we stuck with it," Firkus said after the win.

The victory was the fifth straight win for the Warriors, who improve to 22-14-0-2 on the season and moving two points back of Medicine Hat for second place in the Eastern Conference.

Warriors goalie Jackson Unger earned his league-leading 19th win of the season as he turned away 48 shots, including 40 over the final two periods.

"Jackson has done a fantastic job of making sure that he's staying in front of a lot of them," Warriors assistant coach Curtis Pereverzoff said.

"At the end of the day, it's about the quality shots that we're giving up and if we can do a good job inside and taking away those high-quality looks, those home plate looks, that's a success for us."

The Warriors fell behind early in the game as Prince Albert came out of the gate hard and picked up a goal from Oil Chenier just 2:06 into the game.

Moose Jaw would tie the game up late in the first period when Brayden Schuurman scored a power play goal, his 11th of the season, with 1:31 left in the frame.

Only 34 seconds into the second period, the Warriors would take their first lead of the game as Rilen Kovacevic picked up his 12th of the year and second with the Warriors, burying a rebound in front.

The score stayed 2-1 until 2:13 into the third period when Pavel McKenzie fired a shot from below the goal line that found its way in for his ninth of the year.

The Raiders didn't go away and Niall Crocker made it a one-goal game again with 11:07 to go in the third.

Moose Jaw answered right back only 1:25 later as Atley Calvert converted in front for his 23rd goal of the season.

Again, Prince Albert found a way to answer back, this time with back-to-back goals from Terrell Goldsmith and Crocker to tie the game with 6:46 left in the third.

A late power play for the Warriors ended up being the difference maker as Martin Rysavy buried his 14th of the season to give Moose Jaw the lead with 49 seconds to play.

Firkus slide his 28th of the season into an empty net to cap off his five-point night.

"It's very exciting, our whole room is excited and getting [Matthew] Savoie, that's addition is really big for us and once we get everyone back, it's just going to be fun and momentum going forward," Firkus said.

The Warriors will look to keep their winning ways going on Saturday night when they travel to Swift Current to take on the Broncos.

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 5, 2024


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