Warriors Fall to Calgary in Tight Game
January 7, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Moose Jaw Warriors News Release
Connor Ungar made 43 saves, plus three more in the shootout, but it wasn't enough on Friday night.
The Warriors lost 2-1 in a shootout to the Calgary Hitmen in a back-and-forth, playoff type game at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
"Both teams were playing hard, it was a big game for the standings and it could have went either way," Warriors captain Denton Mateychuk said.
The loss puts the Warriors just one point ahead of the Hitmen for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
It was a goaltending duel with Ethan Buenaventura making 35 saves in the win for Calgary.
Mateychuk said Ungar made sure the Warriors had a chance to win the game.
"When you've got goaltending behind you like that, you play really confidently and you just try to back him up and not give up too many chances," he said.
Warriors assistant coach Gord Burnett said overall the team didn't have their best game.
"We were a little slow to our checks and it took us a little bit to get going," he said.
"We need to be more connected, we were a little bit separated, reading the play a little quicker and getting to your check a second quicker makes a big difference."
The team battled through a scoreless first period before Atley Calvert opened the scoring for the Warriors with a power play goal midway through the second period.
Calvert buried a great feed from Ryder Korczak for his 20th goal of the season.
The Hitmen continued to press and tied the game early in the third period when Riley Fiddler-Schultz wired home a shot on the power play just five minutes into the final frame.
Both sides had opportunities to take the lead over the final 15 minutes and in overtime, but couldn't finish off on their scoring chances.
The Warriors killed off two power plays late in the third, including one that stretched into overtime, and Ungar made big saves to keep the game tied, including stopping nine shots in the extra period.
Moose Jaw finished 1-for-7 with the man advantage and went 4-for-5 on the penalty kill.
Mateychuk said despite the loss, the team is focused on learning from each moment.
"We're just trying to get better every day, come to the rink and work on our systems, work on all of our things technically to get better for the next game and it's going to keep coming," he said.
The Warriors will face a stiff test on Saturday when the Western Hockey League's top team, the Seattle Thunderbirds, make their only trip of the season to the Hangar.
It's REMAX presents Nickelodeon Night in support of the Children's Miracle Network with the team sporting special edition SpongeBob SquarePants jerseys for the game.
Puck drops at 7 p.m.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 7, 2023
- Chiefs Clean Up Penalty Kill, But Fall Short In 2-1 Loss To Vancouver Saturday Night - Spokane Chiefs
- G-Men Take Down Chiefs 2-1 - Vancouver Giants
- T-Birds Bitten by Moose Jaw - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Broncos Score Five Unanswered In 6-4 Win Over Tigers - Swift Current Broncos
- Rockets Fall to Blazers - Kelowna Rockets
- Royals Wrap-Up Road Swing with 6-4 Loss to Americans - Victoria Royals
- Warriors Cruise Past Thunderbirds on Saturday - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Blades Return to Win Column with Dominant 6-2 vs Rebels - Saskatoon Blades
- Tigers Drop 6-4 Contest to Broncos - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Oil Kings Win a Thriller in Lethbridge - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Cougars Upend Silvertips with 3-1 Win in Prince George - Everett Silvertips
- Raiders Take Down Wheat Kings Saturday Night - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Raiders Explode Offensively In 6-2 Win Over Wheat Kings - Prince Albert Raiders
- Marek Alscher Joins Winterhawks in Winnipeg - Portland Winterhawks
- Bedard Returns to the Lineup Sunday vs. Calgary - Regina Pats
- Bedard Returns to the Lineup Sunday vs. Calgary - Regina Pats
- Pats Trade Armstrong to Winnipeg for Harmacy - Regina Pats
- Chiefs Host Vancouver Giants Saturday for Second Time this Season - Spokane Chiefs
- ICE Acquire Armstrong - Winnipeg Ice
- Game Day Preview January 7 vs Swift Current - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Thunderbirds Acquire Colton Dach from the Kelowna Rockets - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Rockets Move Dach And A Pick To T-Birds For Players And Picks - Kelowna Rockets
- Cougars Drop First Game of 2023 to Everett - Prince George Cougars
- Preview: Americans Look to Bounce Back from OT Loss - Tri-City Americans
- Giants Down Americans in Overtime - Tri-City Americans
- T-Birds Extend Winning Streak in Regina - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Rockets Win 3-2 Over Blazers - Kelowna Rockets
- Giants Win 3-2 in OT Friday Night - Vancouver Giants
- Scott, Almquist Each Score Twice As Royals Roll To 6-3 Win Over Chiefs - Victoria Royals
- May Records First WHL Victory in 3-2 Tigers' Triumph Over Oil Kings - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Chiefs Struggle to Build Momentum, Lose to Victoria 6-3 - Spokane Chiefs
- Hofer Nets Two as Tips Top Cougars 4-2 - Everett Silvertips
- Warriors Fall to Calgary in Tight Game - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Wheat Kings Travel to Prince Albert Saturday - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Blades Earn Point in Third Straight Game - Saskatoon Blades
- Broncos Win Fifth Straight, Down Blades 5-4 in Shootout - Swift Current Broncos
- Oil Kings Drop Narrow One-Goal Game to Medicine Hat - Edmonton Oil Kings
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