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WHL Moose Jaw Warriors

Mateychuk at the Top of his Game Heading into 2022-23

August 26, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Moose Jaw Warriors News Release


Denton Mateychuk is ready to take his game to another level this season.

After putting together a stellar sophomore season with the Moose Jaw Warriors that saw him earn East Division Defenceman of the Year honours, Mateychuk has been hard at work this summer.

"That's what you work for in the summer, to take your game to that next level and I think I'm ready to do that this year," he said.

Mateychuk was one of the highest scoring defencemen in the Western Hockey League at 17, posting 13 goals and 64 points in 65 games.

He said he's been focused on improving his speed going into his third season with the Warriors.

"In the gym, I'm working on getting faster, lengthening my strides, things like that," Mateychuk said. "On the ice, skating, my edges, my shot is one of the big things that I wanted to work on and just my all-around game, I wanted to improve on everything."

Mateychuk has his sights set on a big season with the Warriors and also impressing the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Columbus used the 12th overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft to take the Dominion City, MB product and promptly signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Mateychuk said draft day was something he won't soon forget.

"It was an awesome feeling," he said. "Really excited to be a part of that organization and it's just a surreal feeling."

Right after the draft, Mateychuk travelled to Columbus to take part in the team's development camp.

He said he took a lot away from the camp that will help him moving forward.

"It showed me what the next step is," Mateychuk said.

Mateychuk will return to Columbus in a few weeks for training camp and said he knows he needs to be at his best.

"Going into that being the player that I am and just to be ready for that," he said.

Mateychuk also had the opportunity to hit the ice with Canada's best for the Hockey Canada World Junior Summer Camp in July.

He said he felt like he had a good showing at the camp.

"I was looking forward to that and wanted to be at my best," Mateychuk said. "I think I did really well there."

It's been a busy summer for Mateychuk, but he said he wouldn't change anything about it.

"It's been an awesome summer, I've got a lot of experiences, it's been busy, but I've really enjoyed it," he said.

Now Mateychuk will turn his attention to training camp with the Warriors next week.

"Really excited," he said. "By the end of the summer, you're dying to get back and I'm really excited to get back to Moose Jaw."

The Warriors will be on the ice starting Sept. 1 at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.

Check out the Moose Jaw Warriors Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from August 26, 2022


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