WHL Moose Jaw Warriors

Warriors Double up Broncos in Saturday Showdown

December 11, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Moose Jaw Warriors News Release


The Moose Jaw Warriors put together a strong bounce back effort to secure a 4-2 win over the Swift Current Broncos on Saturday night at Mosaic Place.

Jagger Firkus and Ryder Korczak had a goal and two points, while Thomas Tien scored this year's Teddy Bear Toss goal in the win.

The win was a complete reverse for the Warriors after Friday's loss in Swift Current.

"Last night, we basically didn't win any 50/50 battles anywhere on the ice and tonight was a different story," Warriors assistant coach Scott King said.

The Warriors came flying out of the gate, generating some strong scoring chances and they were rewarded when Tien pushed across his second goal of the season to send the bears flying onto the ice just 5:47 into the game.

"It was super cool and just to contribute feels really good," Tien said. "For that to be my second goal is pretty cool."

King said it was great to see the Warriors' fourth line get rewarded with the big goal.

"They're guys that are up and coming and still working at their game, but the key is that they work at their game, so they're on the right track and heading in the right direction," he said.

Moose Jaw continued to attack the Broncos and with 6:58 left in the period, Firkus broke into the Swift Current zone and lifted a shot over Broncos goalie Isaac Poulter to make it 2-0.

Broncos forward Caleb Wyrostok took a five-minute major for cross-checking early in the second period, which sent the Warriors onto the power play.

Moose Jaw struck just 14 second into that man-advantage when Firkus found Brayden Yager in the circle and the Warriors' 16-year-old forward wired a shot past Poulter to make it 3-0.

Later on the power play, Firkus drove the net and was hit into Poulter, forcing the Broncos netminder out of the game.

The Broncos found their stride midway through the period when Cole Nagy scored a power play goal and the game would head to the third period with the Warriors in front 3-1.

Nagy would score another power play goal in the opening minute of the third period to cut the Warriors' lead down to one, but Moose Jaw continued to attack offensively, outshooting the Broncos, 9-7, in the period.

Korczak fired a shot down the ice and into the empty net in the final minute to seal the win for Moose Jaw.

"They kept working and we kept battling and we were persistent in front of our net and we limited their opportunities and it was a good hard fought win," King said.

Carl Tetachuk made 25 saves in the win for Moose Jaw, while the Warriors outshot the Broncos, 31-27, overall in the game.

Moose Jaw was 1-for-4 on the power play and the Broncos went 2-for-3 with the man advantage.

The win moves the Warriors past the Saskatoon Blades into fifth place in the Eastern Conference, one point back of the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Moose Jaw will host Saskatoon on Tuesday night to kick-off the final week before the Christmas break.

King said that's the biggest game of the season so far for the Warriors.

"It's a real big one for us," he said. "That's going to be a big momentum swing whichever way it goes, so obviously that's one that's been circled for a while now."

The Warriors and Blades face-off on Tuesday at Mosaic Place.

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 11, 2021


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