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WHL Moose Jaw Warriors

Unger Ready to Take the Reigns in Net for the Warriors

September 19, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Moose Jaw Warriors News Release


For the past two seasons, Jackson Unger has served as the Moose Jaw Warriors' backup behind a pair of 20-year-old goalies.

Now it's his turn to take over between the pipes heading into the 2023-24 season.

"I feel really comfortable," Unger said. "There was a stretch last season where I played 19 games in a row and that improved my confidence and gave me a boost to be the starter this year."

The Warriors will enter this season with Unger and two rookies, Dimitri Fortin and Josh Banini, as their goaltenders.

Head Coach Mark O'Leary said Unger showed up to training camp this season with a starter's mindset.

"It started at fitness testing, he's clearly put the work in over the summer and that's where you get your confidence," he said. "That's what we've seen from in the early going is a confident guy that put in the work and that is practicing like a pro."

Unger backstopped the Warriors to their only win in the preseason and had four power play goals beat him during his second start to finish the exhibition schedule last Saturday.

O'Leary said the team believes Unger is ready to step up and take on the bigger role this season.

"It starts with the preparation and every young guy will talk about confidence levels, but there's things that we can do to build on that and he's done that work," he said.

"You can see it in the way he practices and how he's preparing for games, it's a much more confident guy and we're looking forward to getting started."

Unger has appeared in 51 games over the past two seasons for the Warriors, posting a 23-23-0-0 record, 3.98 goals against average and 0.876 save percentage.

Last season, Unger played in a career-high 33 games, posting a 15-16-0-0 record, which included wins in six of his final eight starts to help the Warriors push towards the playoffs.

"I played almost every game in a row there [for 19 straight games], so you get the feeling under you," Unger said.

Unger used that experience in the second half last season to fuel his preparations during the offseason.

"I worked really hard over the summer improving my game and working hard in the gym," he said. "I came back, I feel stronger and more confident, so I'm really excited."

Outside of his work in the gym, Unger said his biggest focus was on tracking the puck.

"Just getting my eyes into the game and doing the little things that I didn't do as much last year and I improved on those things," he said.

"[Your eyes] are the biggest thing [for a goalie]. You can't stop the puck if you can't see it."

Unger and the Warriors open the regular season this weekend with games against Prince Albert and Brandon.

"We're really excited, everybody should be comfortable now with how they're playing, it's obviously a different game in the regular season, but these guys are ready to take off," he said.

The Warriors travel to Prince Albert for the season opener on Friday and then host the Wheat Kings in the Mad Greek Home Opener on Saturday night at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.

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Western Hockey League Stories from September 19, 2023


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