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WHL Moose Jaw Warriors

Warriors Cruise Past Americans on Friday

February 24, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Moose Jaw Warriors News Release


Kennewick, WA - Seven straight goals pushed the Moose Jaw Warriors back into the win column on Friday night.

The Warriors' offence exploded for nine goals, including six in the second period, on route to a 9-4 win over the Tri-City Americans at the Toyota Center.

"There's never been a quit in the group on the bench, we always just try to get right back to work and we were able to do that again tonight," Warriors assistant coach Curtis Pereverzoff said.

"Obviously to get a whack of goals on the board and bury a three-game skid, so the guys are happy and they deserve a big win and a bounce back game."

Matthew Savoie led the offensive outburst for the Warriors with two goals and five points in the win, while Brayden Yager added two goals and three points.

Martin Rysavy also scored twice for the Warriors as they ended a three-game losing skid.

The win moves the Warriors into a tie with the Medicine Hat Tigers for second place in the Eastern Conference at 39-18-0-2 on the year.

"It's nice to have [Matthew] in a Warriors' uniform and see him contribute that way," Pereverzoff said. "He was getting it done in all three zones."

The game didn't get off to the start that the Warriors were hoping for as Parker Bell scored for Tri-City just 43 seconds into the game.

Moose Jaw answered back when Martin Rysavy buried his 20th of the season only 1:33 later to even the score at 1-1.

The Warriors took the lead just 8:05 into the game when Matthew Savoie wired home his 19th of the season.

The Americans got off to a hot start to the second period when Bell scored his second of the game only 32 seconds into the frame on the power play.

Only 2:17 later, Tri-City took the lead when Bell completed the hat trick with a shorthanded goal.

With momentum on the Americans' side, the Warriors struck back with Brayden Yager picking up his 26th of the season only 47 seconds later to tie the game.

Connor Schmidt put the Warriors back in front with his third of the season at 7:13, kicking off a stretch of three goals in 2:32.

Atley Calvert fired home his 38th of the season with 9:28 gone in the second and then Savoie followed that up with his second of the game, and 20th of the season, only 17 seconds later.

Then later in the period, Rysavy batted home his second of the game, and 21st of the season, to make it 7-3.

Finally, Yager lifted home his second of the period to finish off the onslaught with four seconds left in the second to make it 8-3 after two.

Jagger Firkus blasted home a one-timer for his 44th of the season just 4:38 into the third to extend the Warriors' lead to five goals.

Former Warrior Thomas Tien scored for Tri-City with just under three minutes to play, but it was too little, too late.

"That's the way we want to play," Pereverzoff said. "We practice a lot making sure our entries are clean, driving to the net, making sure we're putting pucks there and making sure we're stopping in front of the net, the guys followed through on that."

The Warriors outshot the Americans, 34-27, while going 2-for-2 on the power play and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill in the win.

Moose Jaw will continue its U.S. Division road trip on Saturday against the Chiefs in Spokane.

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 24, 2024


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