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WHL Moose Jaw Warriors

'Overall, I'M Quite Happy with Our Group': Ripplinger Reflects on Warriors' First Half

January 5, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Moose Jaw Warriors News Release


It was the kind of first half that the team was looking for.

The Moose Jaw Warriors have hit the halfway point of the 2021-22 regular season after playing their 34th game last Saturday in Regina.

Through 34 games, Moose Jaw sits tied for fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a 16-14-3-1 record, including points in the past four games.

With the Warriors posting an above .500 record over the first half of the season, General Manager Jason Ripplinger is pleased with where the team stands.

"You're never really satisfied, but we're excited about our record," Ripplinger said. "Overall, I don't think our team has quit [in any game] and we've played hard."

Ripplinger said out of the 34 games this season, the team has only had three or four that he would classify as bad games.

"That's kudos to the coaching staff to have the players prepared to play each game," he said.

Ryder Korczak has been great for the Warriors and leads the team with 39 points this season, but it's a trio of younger players that have also stood out for the Warriors through the first half. Jagger Firkus, Brayden Yager and Denton Mateychuk currently sit second, third and fourth on the team in scoring, respectively.

Mateychuk is tied for second in the Western Hockey League in scoring among defenceman with 30 points.

Ripplinger said the 17-year-old is showing his full potential this season.

"Watching him in bantam, he was a special player," he said. "For where he is now, not surprised, this kid is driven, he's a special player and one day, he'll be playing in the NHL."

Firkus and Yager have been playing on a line for the past two seasons and have developed into a dynamic duo for the Warriors.

Firkus leads the Warriors with 21 goals and is second on the team with 38 points, while Yager is right behind him with 15 goals and 30 points in in 30 games.

Yager also has the second-most goals and points among 16 year olds.

Rippling said their ceiling is limitless.

"They're excited to come to the rink, they're always smiling, they're having fun and that's key," he said. "They just love the game, they're good at the game and for the next couple of years, they're going to be a really excited duo to watch."

The Warriors have dealt with injuries throughout the season.

Defenceman Cole Jordan missed 25 games early in the year with a lower body injury, but has since returned.

Fellow 19-year-old Calder Anderson has missed all 34 games so far this season after having knee surgery during the preseason.

20-year-old forward Logan Doust has also missed the past six games with an upper body injury.

The Warriors are also currently without Captain Daemon Hunt, who suffered a broken hand at Canada's World Junior selection camp last month.

"Daemon saw the surgeon this week and then see where his hand is at and other than that, we don't have too much information on, so we'll just kind of wait and see," Ripplinger said.

While the Warriors would prefer to have these veteran players in the lineup full time, Ripplinger said the injuries have led to players stepping up into bigger roles.

"I like the growth of Nathan Pilling, Tate Schofer and Thomas Tien, all these guys that have come in as young guys and they've made big steps," he said.

"Mark [O'Leary] has put these guys in different situations and they've been able to put the puck in the net."

The Warriors are currently on a pause of team activities due to multiple players and staff testing positive for COVID-19, which led to this weekend's games in Alberta being postponed.

The team's next scheduled game is Jan. 12 when the Calgary Hitmen come to Mosaic Place.

While the start of the second half is up in the air, Ripplinger believes the Warriors have some players ready to take another step over the final 34 games.

"Max Wanner on the blue line is the player for me that is ready to start to break out," he said. "He's getting a little bit more comfortable out there, so I expect big things out of Max."

Wanner scored his second goal of the season last Saturday in Regina and now the Edmonton Oilers' seventh round pick has a career-high 11 points this season.

Up front, Ripplinger sees Atley Calvert and Riley Niven as players that could also be poised for big second halves.

"These are two guys that with their work ethic, eventually they're going to break out," he said.

The first big date of the second half is Jan. 17, which is the WHL Trade Deadline.

Ripplinger said the Warriors won't be looking to be buyers or sellers at the deadline.

"We'll just listen," he said. "If anybody comes up with an offer that makes sense for our organization for now and in the future, we'll look at it, but I'm not going around shopping.

"I like our team, I like the makeup of our team and I believe in this group. This is a close team and I just believe keeping the chemistry in the dressing room is bigger than making a trade."

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