'It Hurts When You're So Close': O'Leary Reflects on Warriors' Season
April 27, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Moose Jaw Warriors News Release
Last season when the Moose Jaw Warriors were knocked out in the second round by the Winnipeg ICE, the team took it as a learning experience that they could build off.
This season, the six-game loss to the ICE stings a bit different.
"As a group, we saw how close we were," Warriors head coach Mark O'Leary said.
The Warriors forced the ICE to take their game to another level during the second round series.
"Even the games that we lost - aside from the last game, that hurt for a different reason - but just how close the series was," O'Leary said. "I'm just real proud of the group, the effort that they put in and we lost to a really good team, we know that, but it hurts when you're so close."
While the loss in Game 6 will sting for the players and coaching staff for a while, the Warriors know they made big strides once again this season.
For the first time since 2018-19 and just the eighth time in franchise history, the Warriors won 40-plus games during the regular season.
"You have to learn something whether you win or you lose and this year, it's the moments within a game, moments within a series, you have to be ready, you have to be prepared, you never know when it could be the most important time of the year or most important time of the game," O'Leary said.
"We saw that in the series against Winnipeg, they cashed in on those opportunities and big moments more times than we did."
The core for the Warriors have been together for three seasons now and O'Leary said that played into the success for the group.
"Every team is different, but one thing that we take a lot of pride in here is the people that we have and we were through a lot this year together as a team, they're real close knit in that dressing room," he said.
"The compete level, not just in the playoffs, but day-to-day made my job a whole lot of fun, even the tough losses, I couldn't wait to come to the rink every morning, so that's all thanks to the playoffs and staff I get to work with."
While some players may change year-to-year, O'Leary feels that the organization is building a strong culture within the locker room.
"It's infectious and it just starts by bringing in good people," he said. "It always starts with the people and then that environment breeds the behaviour of the players and every time the new ones come in, they see how we do things, how we treat people and that just bleeds one year to the next."
The Warriors will be losing three important pieces with 20-year-olds Ryder Korczak, Connor Ungar and Logan Dowhaniuk graduating from the Western Hockey League.
Korczak especially was an integral part of growing the culture for the Warriors over his four seasons with the team.
"The graduating players, we wish them all the best, but they did their part to make sure that their impact isn't lost and remains a big part of our dressing room and our culture," O'Leary said.
"Now it's about taking another step forward next year, we're already starting plans in that area and all in all, it was successful year and one that we should be proud of."
With the season done, the Warriors' front office will now turn its attention to the WHL Draft coming up in May.
Western Hockey League Stories from April 27, 2023
- Jagger Firkus Signs Three-Year, Entry-Level Contract with Seattle - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Blades Begin Eastern Conference Championship this Weekend - Saskatoon Blades
- Chase Wheatcroft Named Troy Bourke Offensive Player of the Year - Prince George Cougars
- Howe & Canada Advance to IIHF U18 World Championship Semifinals - Regina Pats
- Series Preview: (2) Kamloops Blazers vs. (1) Seattle Thunderbirds - Seattle Thunderbirds
- 'It Hurts When You're So Close': O'Leary Reflects on Warriors' Season - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Dante Giannuzzi Signs ATO with Hometown Manitoba Moose - Portland Winterhawks
- Chase Wheatcroft Earns Chris Mason 3 Stars Award - Prince George Cougars
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
