Warriors pick up single win over four games in East Division Hub
The Moose Jaw Warriors started the week in solid form, but struggled to find consistency the rest of the way and ended up with a single victory in four games in the Western Hockey League East Division Hub last week.
After taking a 5-2 win over the Prince Albert Raiders to kick things off on Apr. 19, the Warriors dropped a 6-5 overtime decision to the Winnipeg Ice on Wednesday before falling 4-1 to the Regina Pats on Friday night and taking a 3-1 loss to the Swift Current Broncos on Sunday. As good as things went to start the week, Warriors head coach Mark O’Leary was less than impressed with how things played out the rest of the way. And with his crew destined to finish with a sub-.500 record for the second straight season, he admitted to feeling a bit disappointed in how things played out through the final weeks in the Hub. “Absolutely,” O’Leary said. “You’re playing hockey and coaching hockey because you want to win, you’re trying to win every time you come here and when you’re losing more than you win; it’s not fun. It wasn’t fun last year and it’s not fun now. “We expected more from some players, I think, they’ve had lots of opportunities and haven’t performed to where I think
they’re capable of.”
The Warriors opened the week with one of their most impressive victories of the season, scoring five straight goals after falling behind early and carrying play much of the contest on the way to their three-goal win.
Josh Hoekstra scored once and added an assist, while Eric Alarie, Tate Popple, Brayden Yager and Riley Krane all had single markers. Brett Mirwald made 29 saves to earn the victory.
Moose Jaw didn’t have as much luck in their next contest, as the Ice would score in the game’s final minutes to tie things up and then win it in overtime.
Hayes and Jagger Firkus each had a goal and two assists, Krane and Daemon Hunt scored once apiece. Yager and Max Wanner had two helpers each, Boston Bilous had 37 saves in the loss.
As well as the week started, it was equally as bad on Friday night against Regina. The Pats scored goals 13 seconds apart to take control of the contest early in the second period, the Warriors had little to no pushback on the evening and Regina would cruise to the win.
Cory King scored the lone Warriors goal in the third period. Mirwald stopped 17 shots in 35:43, Bilous closed out the game with four saves the rest of the way. The Warriors closed out the week with a 4-2 loss to last-place Swift Current, with Riley Krane and Cole Jordan scoring the Moose Jaw goals. Mirwald had 28 saves in goal.
The Warriors fell to 8-13-2-0 on the season and will finish in sixth place in the East Division. They closed out their regular-season campaign on Monday evening when they took on the Saskatoon Blades. Unfortunately game results were unavailable as of press time.