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WHL Moose Jaw Warriors

Warriors Host Broncos to Open Round Two on Friday

April 12, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Moose Jaw Warriors News Release


Moose Jaw, SK - For the past two seasons, the second round has been the hump for the Moose Jaw Warriors.

With back-to-back second-round losses to the Winnipeg ICE, the Warriors have gained value experience they hope can push them over the hump this season.

"That's a big part of what we've built here is a group that's been together for a long time now and that can be a good thing when things are going really well and can be a good thing when you go through those tough times," Warriors head coach Mark O'Leary said.

"For this group, for as long as they've been together, they've been building towards this opportunity right now and they're excited."

Standing in between the Warriors and their ultimate goal this season is the Swift Current Broncos.

Both teams advanced into the Eastern Conference semifinals with sweeps in the opening round of the 2024 Western Hockey League Playoffs.

The Warriors took out the Brandon Wheat Kings in four straight games, while the Broncos swept past the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

"Getting that first round out of the way and playing some good games over the stretch there as well is big for us moving into the second round," Warriors forward Jagger Firkus said.

The Warriors split their season series against the Broncos with each side winning twice at home and once on the road during the six games.

Both teams put together stellar second halves leading into the playoffs after big additions at the trade deadline. In the three meetings after the deadline, the Warriors were 2-1, including a home-and-home sweep in January.

"Swift is a really good team, they've got a lot of top-end skill, obviously some really good players and so do we, I think we've got a lot of good players and a lot of depth as well, so it's going to be exciting," Warriors forward Brayden Yager said.

With a lot of offensive firepower on both sides of the ice, goaltending will be a key match-up in the series.

Coming off being named East Division Goaltender of the Year last week, Jackson Unger said he's excited about the showdown against Broncos goalie Reid Dyck.

"I've played them all year, found success against them and it's going to be a more intense game in playoffs, but I've just got to stick with my game and what I've been doing all year and it will pay off," Unger said.

The last time that Moose Jaw and Swift Current met in the playoffs came in the second round of the 2018 WHL Playoffs, which saw the Broncos advance in seven games.

O'Leary, who was the Warriors' assistant coach that season, said fans will be in for a treat if this year's showdown lives up to that battle.

"Thinking back to how great that series was and the energy in both buildings, these players are in for some good excitement," he said.

Games one and two are expected to be sold out at the Moose Jaw Events Centre and Yager said that's going to give the players an extra jump.

"The barn is going to be packed, we feed off that every night, so it's exciting and hopefully we can get the first two at home and start off the series well," he said.

The Warriors and Broncos meet for Game 1 on Friday night and Game 2 on Saturday night in Downtown Moose Jaw. Puck drops at 7 p.m.

Check out the Moose Jaw Warriors Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from April 12, 2024


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