Lakovic Shakes off Nerves in WHL Debut
Published on April 18, 2022 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Moose Jaw Warriors News Release
Lynden Lakovic became the third member of the Moose Jaw Warriors' 2021 draft class to make his Western Hockey League debut on Sunday.
The 15-year-old forward hit the ice for his first WHL game in the Warriors' regular season finale in Regina.
"It was amazing," he said. "It was a great atmosphere out there, it's a lot different from practice, which caught me off guard a little bit, but throughout the game, I adapted to it really well."
The Warriors selected Lakovic with the 27th overall pick in the second round of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.
He signed with the team in December and has practiced with the team over the past few weeks after wrapping up his season with West Van Academy.
Lakovic said there were definitely some nerves early in Sunday's game.
"Coming up to the rink, I wasn't really nervous and then as soon as I got out there for warmup and then obviously my first shift, the nerves started getting to me," he said.
"I thought I adapted to it really well."
Warriors assistant coach Scott King said he felt that Lakovic handled himself well in his first taste of the WHL.
"I thought he was nervous for the first two or three shifts, but I thought he settled in and you can see some points in his game where once he gets a little bit older, stronger, faster, he's going to be a dangerous guy," he said.
Lakovic already stands in at six-foot-five and 175 lbs. despite only turning 15 in December.
The Kelowna product said getting the opportunity to play a game in the WHL gives him a good base for what he needs to work on going into next season.
"To get experience in this league is key," he said. "Going into next year, in training camp, trying to make the team next year, it will help me a lot."
After getting to spend time with the team over the past few weeks, Lakovic said his biggest takeaway is how hard everyone works.
"They don't take anything for granted, no days off," he said. "I feel like nobody takes any days off here and it shows out on the ice."
Lakovic will now look to crack the Warriors' roster heading into the 2022-23 season.
The Warriors are off to the WHL Playoffs this weekend. Games one and two of their first round series against Saskatoon will be at Mosaic Place on Friday and Saturday. Click here to purchase single game tickets.
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