WHL Moose Jaw Warriors

Warriors Open Trek Through U.S. Division against Americans

February 23, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Moose Jaw Warriors News Release


Spokane, WA - The Moose Jaw Warriors have landed in the United States.

After a long bus ride on Thursday, the Warriors will head to Kennewick, WA on Friday night to battle the Tri-City Americans, kicking off the U.S. Division portion of their eight-game road trip.

"They're a team that we haven't played since last year, but going into this game, it's exciting, we'll get to see a new fan base and it just brings energy to our team and the game," Warriors forward Jagger Firkus said.

The road trip hasn't started how the Warriors had hoped after back-to-back losses in Swift Current on Monday and Lethbridge on Wednesday extended their losing skid to three games.

Warriors head coach Mark O'Leary said the team has been hurting itself in those losses.

"Both games were similar in terms of specific moments in the game that, if you're watching just those moments, you'd have bad feelings about it, whether it's a big turnover or a missed check," he said, "But the overall game in Lethbridge, I thought we played hard, I still think we were the better team, maybe deserved a better fate, but we have limit these big mistakes."

Prior to the three-game losing skid, the Warriors had been playing their best hockey of the season, riding a six-game winning streak.

Firkus said the team needs to stay in the moment and not allow frustration to creep in.

"We're going through adversity right now, all the tough bounces that we've been getting seem to end up in the back of the net, but that's part of the game," he said.

"Everyone goes through ups and downs, right now we're going through a little slump, but the leaders, we have a big voice on this team and need to make sure we stay even keel."

Friday night is the only meeting of the season between the Warriors and Americans.

Tri-City enters the game also having lost their last two games and they've gone 4-6-0-0 in their last ten games.

The Americans are currently on the outside looking in on the Western Conference playoff race, sitting in ninth place, six points behind the Spokane Chiefs.

O'Leary said the Warriors will need to take care of home plate against the Americans.

"They shoot everything, they have d-men back there that can make plays, shoot and score from back there; they're hard and heavy down the middle; they kind of play a lunch pail style of game," he said.

"We'll need to be in shooting lanes and boxing out at the net from our D and centremen to help out our goaltender the best we can."

The Warriors and Americans square off at 9:05 p.m. Saskatchewan time on Friday night. Tune into the action on WHL Live and Country 100, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 8:40 p.m.

After Friday's game, the Warriors will head to Spokane where they'll meet the Chiefs on Saturday night.

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2024


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