WHL Moose Jaw Warriors

Warriors Open Big Week in Lethbridge

Published on January 4, 2023 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Moose Jaw Warriors News Release


The second half really kicks into high gear this week for the Moose Jaw Warriors with a pair of key Eastern Conference matchups and a showdown with the Western Conference's top team.

The Warriors open their week in Lethbridge on Wednesday night against the Hurricanes with one point separating the two teams for fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings.

"It's a real exciting week," Warriors head coach Mark O'Leary said.

After Wednesday's showdown with the Hurricanes, the Warriors will host the Calgary Hitmen, who are two points behind, on Friday and then welcome in the Seattle Thunderbirds on Saturday.

"Lethbridge and Calgary are both nipping on our heels and a real measuring stick on Saturday against hopefully what will be a complete Seattle team with those guys back from World Juniors," O'Leary said "We're looking forward to the opportunity, it's one game at a time, but it should be a real fun week."

Warriors forward Brayden Yager said the key for the Warriors will preparation heading into each game.

"We've got to prepare a little bit better," he said. "Take it one day at a time, prepare each game like we're playing the best team in the league."

The Warriors returned from the Christmas break with an up-and-down week, beating the WHL-leading Winnipeg ICE last Wednesday, but then splitting their two games against the Brandon Wheat Kings, who currently sit outside the playoffs.

Brandon handed Moose Jaw its most lopsided defeat of the season, 11-2, on Friday, but the Warriors showed good character to bounce back with a 6-2 win in the next game on Saturday.

"We all knew after that game that we needed to bounce back the next day," Warriors captain Denton Mateychuk said.

"We need to prevent [a game like Friday's] from happening as much as possible. It starts with our work ethic, starts with our checking, all those things."

O'Leary said learning from Friday's loss is part of the process of growth throughout the season.

"You're going to go through tough nights, tough stretches and it's being honest in your evaluation of it and recognizing that it's your fault, as a coach, it's your fault and as a player, it's your fault," he said.

"It means you're taking responsibility for it and it means you can control what you do about it, we did that in the short term, Friday to Saturday, now we have to do it in the long term."

The Warriors won their only meeting of the season against the Hurricanes this season, topping them 4-3 at the Hangar back in October.

Mateychuk said they need to be ready to match Lethbridge's work ethic.

"They forecheck hard, they play a really good structured game and you've just got to be ready and know that they're going to be in position a lot of the time, so make quick plays, quick off your stick and just keep your feet moving," he said.

The Warriors and Hurricanes face-off at the ENMAX Centre in Lethbridge at 8 p.m. CST on Wednesday.

Tune into all the action on Country 100 and WHL Live, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 7:40 p.m.

Check out the Moose Jaw Warriors Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 4, 2023


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