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WHL Moose Jaw Warriors

Warriors Open Week against Hurricanes

January 17, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Moose Jaw Warriors News Release


Moose Jaw, SK - The Moose Jaw Warriors played some of their best hockey of the season last week and will be looking to keep their roll going into a busy week ahead.

"We've had two solid games since we've had a full team - other than [Vojtech] Port who will be here soon - we've taken steps in the right direction here," Warriors captain Denton Mateychuk said after practice on Tuesday.

The Warriors have won seven of their last eight games going into Wednesday night's showdown with the Lethbridge Hurricanes at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.

Warriors head coach Mark O'Leary said he's seen the team take positive steps since returning from the Christmas break.

"We're getting more guys involved, both offensively and defensively, and that's important," he said. "We're still figuring things out in terms of what's hurting us right now and that's tracking the rush and puck management, that continues to bite us."

The Warriors are coming off a big 7-2 win over the Vancouver Giants on Saturday night, which saw Matthew Savoie lead the way in his Warriors' debut with a five-point performance.

Mateychuk said Savoie makes the Warriors' lineup dangerous.

"Offensively, obviously he's very talented, but also defensively, he's got a really good stick and he plays hard, so he brings a bunch of things to our team and we're really happy to have him here," he said.

Jagger Firkus added four points in Saturday's win to move into a tie for the league's scoring lead.

O'Leary said the Warriors' lineup depth makes his job a lot easier.

"Match-up wise, it makes things a little nicer as a coach, you have lines that you're not so worried about getting stuck out there in tough situations, we have more lines that we completely trust in different situations and it just gives you more wiggle room," he said.

The Hurricanes enter Wednesday's meeting after splitting a home-and-home with Medicine Hat over the weekend. Lethbridge sits seventh in the Eastern Conference at 20-17-3-0.

Lethbridge went through a number of changes around the WHL Trade Deadline, but O'Leary said he doesn't expect their style to change.

"They rearranged the deck chairs a little bit, but they're still going to have that structure and for me, it's still their backend that make it tough," he said.

The Warriors and Hurricanes meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesday night at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 17, 2024


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