Moose Jaw Warriors Moving on to WHL Championship Series
Published on May 7, 2024 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Moose Jaw Warriors News Release
The Moose Jaw Warriors are four wins away from making history.
Moose Jaw knocked off the regular-season champion Saskatoon Blades 3-2 in overtime in Game 7 to capture the Eastern Conference Championship and move on to the WHL Championship Series for the second time in franchise history and the first time since 2006.
Lynden Lakovic scored the series-clinching goal less than a minute into the extra frame.
Ethan Semeniuk broke through with his first goal of the postseason to open the game, while Saskatoon's Easton Armstrong leveled the match in the second period.
The electric series saw a staggering six matches go to overtime, setting a modern WHL record.
Saskatoon and Moose Jaw tied the previous marker of five overtime contests in game 6, matching Kelowna and Seattle's 2013 quarterfinal series and Tri-City and Spokane's 2008 Western Conference Championship showdown.
Moose Jaw enters the big dance as the top-scoring team in the postseason, scoring 71 goals in 16 postseason matches for an average of nearly five goals per game.
Captain and Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Denton Mateychuk and Seattle Kraken draft pick Jagger Firkus are tied for first in playoff points, with the WHL Defenceman of the Year and the CHL's regular season points leader each piling up 27 points in 16 games.
2024 NHL Draft-eligible netminder Jackson Unger made 37 saves in the victory, including a pair of key stops on Vaughn Watterodt on the doorstep with the game tied in the third.
The 19-year-old improved to 12-1-2-0 in the playoffs, posting a 3.14 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage.
The Warriors are chasing the franchise's first Ed Chynoweth Cup.
Moose Jaw will face the Western Conference Champion Portland Winterhawks in the WHL Championship series.
Game 1 is set for Friday, May 10 at 7:00 p.m. PST at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Ore.
Western Hockey League Stories from May 7, 2024
- Warriors Advance to WHL Final with Another Thrilling OT Win - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Blades Eliminated from Playoffs After Game 7 Overtime Loss to Warriors - Saskatoon Blades
- Warriors to Face off with Portland in 2024 WHL Championship Series Presented by Nutrien - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Moose Jaw Warriors Moving on to WHL Championship Series - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Portland Winterhawks and Moose Jaw Warriors to Face off in 2024 WHL Championship Series Presented by Nutrien - WHL
- Winterhawks Announce 2024 WHL Championship Series Schedule - Portland Winterhawks
- Rockets Gear Up For Pair Of Drafts This Week - Kelowna Rockets
- U.S. Draft: Michels Sees More Americans Following his Lead - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Mateychuk Wins Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Warriors Captain Mateychuk Awarded Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy as WHL Defenceman of the Year for 2023-24 - WHL
- Western Hockey League to Host 2024 U.S. Priority and Prospects Drafts this Week - WHL
- Chiefs Prepare for this Week's U.S. Priority and WHL Prospects Drafts - Spokane Chiefs
- Cougars Historic Season Comes to an End After Double OT Loss to Portland - Prince George Cougars
- Mirwald Wins Del Wilson Memorial Trophy as WHL Goaltender of the Year - Vancouver Giants
- Giants Netminder Mirwald Named Recipient of Del Wilson Memorial Trophy as WHL Goaltender of the Year - WHL
- Prospect Draft: Wheat Kings Scouts Embrace Draft Chaos - Brandon Wheat Kings
- 2024 WHL Draft Primer - Everett Silvertips
- Warriors Focused Heading into Game 7 against Blades - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Flames Prospect Axel Hurtig Signs with Hitmen - Calgary Hitmen
- McKenna Named WHL Rookie of the Year - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Tigers Forward McKenna Awarded Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as WHL Rookie of the Year for 2023-24 - WHL
- Road to the WHL Draft: 2022 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Hawks Win Western Conference, Advance to WHL Championship with 2OT Win - Portland Winterhawks
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