WHL Moose Jaw Warriors

Warriors Confident in Their Goaltending Tandem Heading Down the Stretch

February 14, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Moose Jaw Warriors News Release


During the Moose Jaw Warriors' recent run of ten win in their last 11 games, the team has had different areas step up at different times.

One consistent during that stretch, however, has been the play of the Warriors' two goaltenders.

20-year-old Carl Tetachuk and 16-year-old Jackson Unger have been stellar between the pipes for the Warriors.

This past weekend, Tetachuk stopped 23 of 24 shots in Friday's 3-1 win over the Prince Albert Raiders and Unger turned away 31 of 32 shots in the Warriors' 4-1 win over the Calgary Hitmen.

"When you're looking out there as a coach, you just want to see confidence and poise and we got that from both guys this weekend," Warriors head coach Mark O'Leary said. "It just trickles down to the whole group when you see confidence there."

In his final Western Hockey League season, Tetachuk has been stellar for the Warriors with a 21-10-3-1 record in 37 games this season.

He's fourth in the league in wins, first in saves and second in minutes. He is also in the top-ten in goals against average (2.91) and save percentage (0.911).

O'Leary said Tetachuk has really taken on a leadership role with the team and helped Unger grow along with him.

"Teddy has been real good for Jackson, he's professional in the way that he prepares and the way that he works in the gym and on the ice, so they work well together," he said.

Unger joined the Warriors in November and has went 6-4-0-0 in 12 games this season, including wins in his last three starts.

The Calgary product has a 3.35 goals against average and an 0.894 save percentage.

"I thought I played great," Unger said on his 31-save performance on Saturday. "It was a really good game from the team in front of me."

Unger was selected by the Warriors in the third round of the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft.

He said he's been able to learn a lot from Tetachuk throughout the season.

"He's been a great goalie partner, he's a great mentor, looking up to an older guy, watching him play, it's a great learning experience," Unger said.

"I've been able to learn the little habits and stuff he does in the net during practice and just the little stuff he does in games."

Despite having 132 career games under his belt, Tetachuk said he's also been able to learn from Unger this season.

"Just the way he's so calm in the net, so a lot to learn," he said.

"I try to be a leader to him as much as I can, help him out, he's a great goalie, so he's got a bright future."

Both goalies have also been pushing each other to be better throughout the season.

"We challenge each other, so it works out pretty good," Tetachuk said.

O'Leary said that only makes them better.

"That's good for everybody," O'Leary said.

With the Warriors currently holding down fourth place in the Eastern Conference, Tetachuk said he's excited to be heading down the stretch battling for a playoff spot.

"It's been a long wait for sure, the last two years I've missed out on the playoffs, so I'm excited," he said.

The Warriors' two netminders will lead Moose Jaw into their two hometowns this week when the Warriors face the Hurricanes in Tetachuk's hometown of Lethbridge on Tuesday and then travel to Unger's hometown of Calgary on Wednesday.

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 14, 2022


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