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WHL Moose Jaw Warriors

Warriors Can't Extinguish Blazers on Friday Night

December 15, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Moose Jaw Warriors News Release


Moose Jaw, SK - The Moose Jaw Warriors couldn't get back into the win column at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.

The Warriors dropped a 5-3 contest to the Kamloops Blazers in their final home game before the Christmas break on Friday night.

"Not to take anything away from Kamloops, but it's a seven-win team and we need to have that game as simple as that," Warriors associate coach Scott King said.

"I liked the third period, we couldn't have tried any harder to tie it up, just couldn't get one just to find a stick and put it in, we had stuff laying all over the place around the net and just managed to hit a post."

Atley Calvert had two goals, while Dimitri Fortin made 40 saves in the loss for the Warriors.

Jagger Firkus added two assists in his return to the lineup after attending Canada's World Junior Selection Camp.

"We weren't able to string shifts together and kind of come out on a consistent basis and defend on a consistent basis," Warriors forward Brayden Schuurman said after the loss.

"When things get tough, we need guys coming close, supporting each other, we've got to be working together, battling close and connected, we have to make sure we're staying connected as a group."

Kamloops opened the scoring when Kai Matthew scored on the power play 8:11 into the game.

Atley Calvert answered back for the Warriors only 3:27 later to tie the game up at 1-1 after one.

The Blazers put together a strong second period and picked up goals from Ashton Ferster and Jordan Keller to take a 3-1 lead after two.

The Warriors started the third period on the power play and capitalized when Calvert scored his second of the night, and 20th of the season, only 1:26 into the frame, cutting the lead down to one.

Ferster's second of the night midway through the third put the Blazers back up by two, but Pavel McKenzie answered back for the Warriors only 2:45 later to make it a one-goal game again.

The Warriors pressured in the final minutes for an equalizer, but Kamloops sealed the win when Shea Van Old scored into an empty net.

The loss in the fifth straight for the Warriors and Schuurman said the team needs to push to be better.

"It just a matter of everyone in that dressing room looking themselves sin the mirror and just wanting to be better every day," he said. "We have to have some accountability, it starts with the older players like myself, making sure we're better every day and we're working towards a common goal."

The Warriors will finish the first half in Brandon on Saturday night.

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 15, 2023


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