Warriors & Wheat Kings Renew Rivalry
December 28, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Moose Jaw Warriors News Release
LAST GAME... Saskatoon scored five goals in the third period last night and beat the Warriors 5-2 at SaskTel Centre. Ethan Semeniuk and Lynden Lakovic had one goal each for the Warriors, Rilen Kovacevic picked up two assists, and Josh Banini made 22 saves. Moose Jaw was 1-for-3 on the power play and 1-for-3 on the penalty kill.
Career year for Kov... 20-year-old Rilen Kovacevic is saving his best for last. In his final year in the WHL, he has 20 goals, 15 assists, and 35 points in 28 games. He has already posted career highs in goals and points and is two assists shy of tying his career-high set last year (17). Since November 2, Kovacevic has 18 goals and 24 points in 16 games.
Close Encounters... In 32 games this season, the Warriors have gone into the third period tied 11 times, the second most in the WHL. In these games, Moose Jaw has posted a record of 2-7-1-1.
Shots... In 32 games this season, the Warriors have been outshot by the opponent 24 times, the most in the WHL. Their record is 3-19-1-1. Moose Jaw has outshot its opponents in six games; their record is 3-1-2.
Opposition Preview... The Brandon Wheat Kings come into tonight with a record of 15-10-3-2. They are 5-4-0-1 in their last ten games and are coming off a 7-3 loss last night to the Regina Pats. Marcus Nguyen leads Brandon with 15 goals and 31 points, Matteo Michels has 13 goals and 27 points, and Dominik Petr has 26 points.
2024 - 2025 vs. Brandon... This is the third of eight meetings this season between the Warriors and Wheat Kings and their first in Saskatchewan. Moose Jaw is 1-1 against Brandon after splitting two games in Manitoba. The Warriors are 1-for-5 on the power play (20.0%) and have allowed two goals on six penalty kills (66.7%).
Lynden Lakovic leads the Warriors with three goals and four points against the Wheat Kings, Rilen Kovacevic has one goal and four points, Aiden Ziprick has one goal and two points, and Connor Schmidt has one goal. Brady Smith is 1-0 with a 3.69gaa and a .907sv%.
Roger McQueen leads the Wheat Kings with four goals against the Warriors, Marcus Nguyen has one goal and four points, Quinn Mantei has three assists, Caleb Hadland and Luke Shipley have one goal and two points each, and Nicholas Johnson has two assists. Ethan Eskit is 1-0-0-1 with a 2.88gaa and a .889sv%.
O'Leary moving up... Mark O'Leary is entering his fourth full season as the Warriors' Head Coach. He took over the reins in January 2020. In 311 games on the bench, he has a record of 159-126-15-11. He is third in games coached in franchise history; Tim Hunter is second with 356. His 157 wins rank second on the team's all-time list.
NHL Players to Watch... Warriors Connor Schmidt and Lynden Lakovic were two of the 55 WHL players named to the NHL Central Scouting Preliminary Players to Watch list for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Lakovic received an "A" rating while Schmidt received a "W" rating.
Streaking
Ethan Semeniuk has 2-2-4pts in his last five games
Lynden Lakovic is on a 13-game point streak (10-9-19pts)
Pavel McKenzie has 4-4-8pts in the last ten games
Aiden Ziprick has 3-7-10pts in the last 10 games
Rilen Kovacevic has 14-7-21pts in the last 12 games
Milestone Watch
Brady Ness is seven games away from 100 for his career
Pavel McKenzie is five games away from 100 for his career
Landen Ward is eight games away from 100 for his career
Owen Berge is seven games away from 100 for his career
Rilen Kovacevic is seven games away from 200 for his career
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Western Hockey League Stories from December 28, 2024
- Rockets Fall In Tightly Contested Battle With Blazers - Kelowna Rockets
- Tigers Blank the Hurricanes 4-0 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Ravensbergen Reigns Supreme as Cougars Earn Four-Point Weekend Over Royals - Prince George Cougars
- Warriors End Weekend with Loss to Wheat Kings - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Hawks Down Tri-City 4-3 to Sweep Home-And-Home - Portland Winterhawks
- Slough Sharks Drop 7-5 Decision to Raiders - Swift Current Broncos
- Stellar Third Secures Wheat Kings' Win in Moose Jaw - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Blades Sneak Past Pats After Three Goal Third Period - Regina Pats
- Oil Kings Acquire Tsakumis from Blazers for Gugyelka, Pick - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Kamloops Blazers Acquire Defenseman and Draft Pick - Kamloops Blazers
- Game Preview: Game 35 vs Lethbridge Hurricanes - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Rockets End 2024 With Trio Of Games - Kelowna Rockets
- Warriors & Wheat Kings Renew Rivalry - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Gone Fishin': Slough Sharks Host Raiders - Swift Current Broncos
- Game Day Hub: December 28 at Tri-City - Portland Winterhawks
- Game Preview: Cougars at Royals - Prince George Cougars
- T-Birds Fall to Everett at CPA - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Stroeder Scores Twice as Oil Kings Defeat Rebels - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Schmidt's OT Winner Lifts Giants Past Blazers - Vancouver Giants
- Cowan, Puck Luck Stymie Wenatchee in 2-1 Loss Friday at Spokane - Wenatchee Wild
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