Warriors Look for Rebound against Rockets
Published on December 12, 2023 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Moose Jaw Warriors News Release
Moose Jaw, SK - Last week wasn't what the Moose Jaw Warriors had hoped as the team saw their four-game winning streak turn into a three-game losing skid.
Head coach Mark O'Leary said building consistency is the biggest lesson to take from the week.
"The disappointing thing with last week was how we played so well for stretches of every game and we still come away with three losses," he said. "It's being prepared mentally and physically, whether it's to start a period of to finish a game off, that's where we fell short."
After learning those lessons, the Warriors will look to start off the final week of the first half on a strong note against the Kelowna Rockets on Tuesday at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
O'Leary said the team started on the right foot towards a bounce back with a strong practice on Monday.
"Everything that we just talked about, just being prepared to do your job, whether it's one-on-one with or without the puck, just being prepared and being engaged to compete and do your job," he said.
The Warriors will be tested this week, not only by the opposition, but with three of the team's top players out of the lineup as Denton Mateychuk, Jagger Firkus and Brayden Yager have departed for Canada's World Junior Selection Camp.
That also means new opportunities for other players in the lineup.
Rookie forward Owen Berge said he's looking forward to a bigger role over the next few games.
"It's definitely nice, I'll be able to get more ice time out there and really show the coaches what I can do and it'll be nice to get the opportunity," he said.
"I just want to show them that I'm a consistent player and reliable out there at both ends of the ice."
O'Leary said with more opportunity comes more responsibility for players throughout the lineup.
"It's all well and good to want to play more, it means there's more responsibility and our guys are looking forward to both," he said.
This will be Kelowna's first trip to Moose Jaw since December of 2019. The Warriors won their only meeting last season, 4-3 in Kelowna.
"They have a couple of guys up front that can score goals and we'll need to be aware of them," O'Leary said.
"As long as we're competing and we're doing our job, it doesn't matter who we're playing against. We certainly respect the way that Kelowna plays, they can put the puck in the back of the net if given the opportunity, but we need to limit those chances and make sure our game is where it needs to be."
The Warriors and Rockets meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday night at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 12, 2023
- Warriors Fail to Stall Rockets in Tuesday Loss - Moose Jaw Warriors
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- Rockets To Play Back-To-Back Mid Week Games - Kelowna Rockets
- Marek Alscher Named to Czech World Juniors Roster - Portland Winterhawks
- Blades Deepen Blue Line with 2004-Born Defenceman Andrusiak - Saskatoon Blades
- Rebels Trade Andrusiak to Saskatoon - Red Deer Rebels
- Holiday Week Primer (12/13 & 12/16) - Everett Silvertips
- Oil Kings D Vojtech Port Invited to Czechia's World Junior Selection Camp - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Dominik Rymon Named to Czechia World Junior Championship Camp - Everett Silvertips
- Ondrej Becher and Viliam Kmec Set to Shine at World Junior Camps - Prince George Cougars
- Wheat Kings this Week: Black and Gold Look to Continue Homestand Hot Streak - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Warriors Look for Rebound against Rockets - Moose Jaw Warriors
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