Firkus Scores Hat Trick to Lift Warriors over Raiders 4-1
October 21, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince Albert Raiders News Release
Jagger Firkus and Brayden Yager did all of the damage for Moose Jaw on Saturday night, as the Warriors beat the Raiders 4-1 at the Art Hauser Centre. Firkus has a hat trick, while Yager chipped in with a goal.
The Warriors jumped out to a 1-0 lead just 20 seconds into the first period, after a Raider turnover in the defensive zone. Ethan Semeniuk pinched the boards to hold the puck in the zone, and fed a wide open Brayden Yager in the slot. Yager toe-dragged and released a shot that beat Chase Coward blocker side. His eighth goal of the season gave Moose Jaw an early one goal lead.
With 36 seconds left in the opening frame, the Warriors doubled their lead. Denton Mateychuk sent a breakaway feed to Jagger Firkus, who worked his way in all alone on Coward. Firkus faked a shot, before deking to his backhand and burying his eighth goal of the season to make it a 2-0 game.
The Raiders outshot the Warriors 24-9 in the opening 20 minutes, but trailed 2-0 heading into the second period of play.
Cole Peardon cut into the deficit 5:29 into the second period, after a big scramble play ensued around the Moose Jaw net. After Jackson Unger made a couple of big saves, the rebound popped out near the right circle to Peardon, who buried his second goal of the season to make it a 2-1 game.
The Warriors scored a back breaking goal late in the second period to go up by a pair. Brayden Schuurman fed a wide open Firkus in the slot, and he rifled a shot past Coward, giving the Warriors a 3-1 lead with 12 seconds left in the middle frame, and they would hold onto that lead heading into the third period.
Just 55 seconds into the third period, Firkus completed his hat trick, beating Coward again for his third goal of the night to make it a 4-1 Warriors lead.
Jackson Unger stopped 38 of 39 Raider shots, as the Warriors took their lead the rest of the way, winning by a 4-1 final.
The Raiders (7-4-0-1) are back in action on Wednesday night in Swift Current. Puck drop is 7pm.
Western Hockey League Stories from October 21, 2023
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- Cougars Collect 8th Win of Season in Dominant Fashion over Blazers - Prince George Cougars
- Chiefs Pick Up Point, Drop Second Straight to Victoria in OT - Spokane Chiefs
- Firkus Scores Hat Trick to Lift Warriors over Raiders 4-1 - Prince Albert Raiders
- Three-Goal Third Helps Hawks to Eighth Straight Win - Portland Winterhawks
- End-To-End Battle Ends in Shootout Loss for Wheat Kings - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Cougars Return to Action for Weekend Set Beginning against Kamloops - Prince George Cougars
- Chiefs Take on Royals Saturday in Second of Back-To-Back Contests - Spokane Chiefs
- Warriors Look for Bounce Back in Prince Albert - Moose Jaw Warriors
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