Perseverance pays off for Warriors’ Jeannot
There’s a lot on the line — including the dotted line — for Tanner Jeannot of late.
Having just signed a three-year, entry-level NHL contract with the Nashville Predators, the 20-yearold Moose Jaw Warriors forward is preparing for Tuesday’s WHL playoff showdown with the visiting Prince Albert Raiders.
The Predators announced the signing on Monday, a few hours before the Warriors practised in preparation for Game 7 of a bestof-seven Eastern Conference quarter-final.
“With the contract and everything, it’s obviously a really good accomplishment for me and my family, and for everyone who has supported and helped me to get to where I am,” Jeannot said Monday. “But we’ve got a big game (Tuesday) night, so I’m trying to keep everything on an even keel and be ready to go.”
The contract came together over the past week, leading to the Oxbow-born Jeannot applying pen to paper — quite a step for someone who was bypassed in the WHL and NHL drafts.
“Growing up, I’d always say that I was going to be a hockey player,” Jeannot said. “People would say, ‘ What’s your backup plan?’ I’d say, ‘Nope, I’m going to be a hockey player.’ Now it is coming true and it’s really exciting.”
Jeannot tried out for the Warriors as a listed player in 2014, only to be cut in the fall. However, he soon rejoined the team and played in 52 games as a 17-year-old.
Over the next three regular seasons, Jeannot played in all but one of a possible 216 games. As a member of the 2017-18 Warriors, he had 80 points (including 40 goals) in 72 regular-season games.
The Predators took note of Jeannot’s performance and perseverance.
“Not getting drafted or anything, it’s just an obstacle that you’ve got to overcome,” he said. “It’s what I’ve just based my career on. My family has helped along the way. I’ve just tried to control what I can control by working hard and proving wrong the people who didn’t want to take a chance on me.
“It’s what I’ve been doing, and I plan to keep doing that. I’m really grateful to Nashville for giving me this opportunity and I’m not going to let them down.”
The immediate priority is Tuesday’s game (7 p.m., Mosaic Place) against a resilient Raiders team that has twice staved off elimination to force a winner-take-all contest.
“That’s what hockey is all about — big moments like this,” Jeannot said. “We’ve got a good team here in Moose Jaw and they’ve got a good team in P.A., so it’s going to be a really good game. I know the city’s going to be behind us and it’s going to be a pretty good atmosphere in that building.”
Moose Jaw registered a franchise record 52 victories en route to amassing 109 regular-season points and finishing first overall in the WHL. Prince Albert (3227-9-4) was 16th overall, 32 points behind Moose Jaw.
Despite the regular-season disparity between the teams, they are neck-and-neck in Round 1.
“It’s playoff hockey,” Jeannot said. “Everyone’s doing whatever they can to win. Everyone is taking that extra step and sacrificing their bodies and putting everything on the line. That’s what it’s been like.
“P.A. has been competing like madmen out there and we’ve been trying to match it the best we can. It has been a crazy series. We’ve just got to come out (Tuesday) night and compete like madmen and play the way we can and hope for the best.”
A seventh game was also played Monday night, when the Regina Pats visited the Swift Current Broncos. Coverage appears on leaderpost.com.