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WHL Moose Jaw Warriors

Warriors Score Big Comeback Win over Brandon Saturday

March 6, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Moose Jaw Warriors News Release


When Ridly Greig scored just 11 seconds into the third period to put the Brandon Wheat Kings in front by two goals, the Moose Jaw Warriors didn't panic.

The Warriors regrouped quickly, scoring two goals 32 seconds apart just four minutes later to tie the game.

Then, 16-year-old star Brayden Yager scored his second of the night with just 37 seconds to play to complete the comeback and give the Warriors a 6-5 win at Mosaic Place on Saturday night.

"That was a real big game for our group," Warriors head coach Mark O'Leary said after the win. "It was a lot like a playoff game and a playoff series, there's going to be ups and downs and momentum swings and just having the discipline to stay within your game and play your game and we did that."

In a game that featured 11 total goals, three lead changes and big momentum swings, O'Leary said he felt his team stayed composed and pushed right through the finish line.

"We weren't perfect, but at the end of the day, we got up fast every time that we were challenged and just real proud of the group tonight, that was a real character win," O'Leary said.

After going six games without a goal, Yager came up big for the Warriors when they needed him.

He scored his first of the night late in the second period, which got Moose Jaw back into the game down 3-2 and then wired home the winner on a power play in the final minute of the game.

"It was pretty huge obviously," Yager said on his game-winner. "I was just trying to find some open space and [Jagger Firkus] is a pretty good passer, so he fed me in the slot and I just tried to put it on net and it ended up going in."

The winner was Yager's 27th goal of the season, which moved him just two away from tying Theo Fleury's franchise record for goals by a 16-year-old.

He said it felt good to breakthrough tonight after being stuck in a goal-scoring slump.

"The was a couple games where I wasn't scoring and getting looks as much, but tonight was a good night and it feels really good," Yager said.

Riley Niven opened the scoring for the Warriors for the second straight night, taking a feed from Atley Calvert and burying it in an empty net just 5:52 into the game.

The Wheat Kings got on the board late in the first period when Chad Nychuk fired a point shot past Carl Tetachuk with 30 seconds left in the period.

Brandon took control of the game early in the second when Landon Roberts and Greig scored 1:20 apart to make it 3-1.

Moose Jaw came firing back in the second half of the period when Yager scored a power play goal with 4:57 left in the frame.

Then just 1:33 later, Tate Schofer tipped a point shot by Majid Kaddoura for his second of the season, tying the game back up at 3-3.

Only 1:20 later though, Nychuk walked into the zone and scored his second of the night to put Brandon in front by one after two.

Greig's second of the night just 11 seconds into the third gave Brandon back its two-goal lead, but the Warriors didn't go away.

Josh Hoekstra scored his fourth of the season on a rebound in front to cut the lead back down to one at 4:07 and then just 32 seconds later, Eric Alarie picked up 16th of the season to tie the game up at 5-5.

A penalty by Brandon in the final minute gave the Warriors the break they were looking for and Yager made no mistake for the winner.

"It was a back-and-forth game with them scoring a few quick goals and then us bouncing back, but we just kept going, stuck to our game plan and played to our strengths and it ended up working," Yager said.

Tetachuk made 33 saves in the win for Moose Jaw, while Ethan Kruger turned away 32 shots for the Wheat Kings.

The Warriors went 2-for-6 on the power play and 2-for-4 on the penalty kill on the night.

The win keeps the Warriors three points in front of Saskatoon for fourth place in the Eastern Conference and gives them an eight-point cushion on the Wheat Kings.

Moose Jaw is off this week with games against Calgary and Lethbridge on tap next weekend at Mosaic Place.

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 6, 2022


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