Warriors will a way to Game 7 with out of nowhere comeback

Halbgewachs nets winner in triple overtime

The Warriors celebrate Jayden Halbgewachs’ triple OT winner.

    SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. - You could have almost stuck of a fork in the Moose Jaw Warriors, because it looked like they were done.

    Trailing a best-of-seven WHL Eastern Conference semifinal series 3-2 to the Swift Current Broncos, the Warriors showed little life through the first 46 minutes of Game 6 at the Innovation Credit Union i-Plex in Swift Current on Saturday night.

    The host Broncos led 1-0 entering the third period and held a 28-9 edge in shots on goal in the opening 40 minutes. 

    At the 3:35 mark of the third period, Broncos captain Glenn Gawdin fed a backhand pass from the right corner boards in the offensive zone to star right-winger Tyler Steenbergen in front of the Moose Jaw goal. Steenbergen blew home his ninth goal of the post-season to give the Broncos a 2-0 lead.

Jayden Halbgewachs sets to fire home his overtime winner.

    It appeared the Broncos were on their way to the WHL Eastern Conference championship series for the first time since 2001.

    Out of nowhere, the complexion of the contest changed. At the 6:43 mark of the third period, 17-year-old Warriors defenceman Jett Woo fired home a point shot to cut Swift Current’s edge to 2-1. From that moment onwards, the Warriors, who last made the WHL Eastern Conference championship series in 2012, played a tonne more jump in their stride.

    With 8:42 to play in the third period, Warriors captain Brett Howden tipped home a point shot from star defenceman Kale Clague to tie things up at 2-2. At first, the officials didn’t signal goal, because the back end of the Broncos net was flipped into the air, when Howden deflected Clague’s shot down into the Swift Current cage.

    The officials checked out the video replay and concluded Howden did score as the net never did come off its pegs. That tally ultimately sent the contest to overtime.

Matteo Gennaro scored the first goal in Saturday night’s game.

    The contest remained tied until early in the third overtime period, when the Warriors caught a break after Broncos Russian import defenceman Artyom Minulin was called for hooking.

    On the ensuing power play, Warriors star winger Jayden Halbgewachs wired home the winner from the left side boards at the 1:14 mark to give the Warriors a 3-2 victory. The result sent the majority of the sellout crowd of 2,890 home disappointed outside of the healthy contingent of fans that came from Moose Jaw to support the Warriors.

    Halbgewachs’ goal allowed the Warriors to even the series up at 3-3 and force a series deciding Game 7 to be held Monday at 7 p.m. at Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw. The winner of that contest will face the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the best-of-seven WHL Eastern Conference Championship series.

Warriors goalie Brody Willms makes one of 58 saves.

    On Saturday night, The Broncos came out and peppered Warriors netminder Brody Willms with 12 shots in the opening 20 minutes. The 19-year-old was the key reason the Warriors were able to escape the frame locked in a 0-0 tie.

    Actually, the Warriors almost exited the first with the lead. Broncos netminder Stuart Skinner only faced four shots in the first, but with the Warriors working on the power play late in the frame, he turned away Halbgewachs on a backdoor chance.

    The hosts continued their onslaught of shots in the second, and the Broncos finally took a 1-0 lead with 6:17 to play in the frame.

Tyler Steenbergen put the Broncos up 2-0 early in the third.

    Working on a power play, overage centre Matteo Gennaro tipped home a point shot from Minulin to give the Broncos the edge.

    After Steenbergen scored early in the third to give the Broncos a 2-0 lead, the Innovation Credit Union i-Plex was jumping. All that did was set the stage for what seemed like an improbably Warriors comeback.

    The Broncos had a power play in the first overtime period, but were unable to net the goal that would have won the series.

    Willms made 58 saves to pick up the win in goal for the Warriors. Skinner turned away 35 shots to take the setback in goal for the Broncos.

    In the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s clash, the Broncos will see the overtime loss as one of those games that got away. The Warriors can say the same thing about Game 4 of the series last Wednesday in Swift Current, where the Broncos pulled out a 3-2 victory in double overtime.

Jett Woo’s goal sparked a rally by the Warriors.

    In all reality, the fact that this series is going to a Game 7 likely does justice to the work both sides have put in over the first six games.

    It was expected the Warriors and Broncos would engage in a heavyweight tilt, and that tilt has materialized. The Warriors finished first overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 52-15-2-3 record, and the Broncos finished second overall with a 48-17-5-2 mark.

    Now, we will see who has enough gas in the tank to take the final chapter of this encounter.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Sweet, sweet victory – Raiders enter seventh heaven

Goaltender Ian Scott and captain Curtis Miske enjoy the Raiders Game 6 win.

    PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. - Wow!

    In an all-time WHL playoff classic, the Prince Albert Raiders have forced a series deciding Game 7 in their best-of-seven first round set with the Moose Jaw Warriors, who topped the league’s regular season standings with a 52-15-2-3 record.

    The two clubs played through an intense back-and-fourth Game 6 on Sunday before 2,835 spectators at the Art Hauser Centre. Locked in a 4-4 tie, Raiders winger Cole Fonstad lifted a shot over the shoulder of Warriors netminder Brody Willms to give the hosts a 5-4 lead with 8:24 to play in the third period.

    The Raiders ensured that 5-4 scored held up as the final outcome on Sunday to tie their series up with the Warriors 3-3. 

Cole Fonstad scored twice for the Raiders on Sunday.

    Game 7 is set for 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw.

    Fonstad scored twice on Sunday including the game’s opening tally on a rebound from a shot taken by overage linemate Jordy Stallard at the 7:34 mark of the first period. The Raiders dropped Games 3 and 4 of the series in Prince Albert including a 2-0 heartbreaker in Game 4 on Wednesday to fall behind 3-1 in the series.

    In Game 4, Fonstad had a goal called back just past the midway point of the third period due to incidental contact on Willms by Raiders defenceman Max Martin that would have tied that contest 1-1. The Warriors added an empty-net tally to seal that win.

    Fonstad was pumped to deliver for the Prince Albert fans on Sunday.

    “We kind of let ourselves and the fans down there in Games 3 and 4 there,” said Fonstad. “The fans tonight were amazing.

    “It is unbelievable the atmosphere in this building. We are really lucky to have them.

Brayden Burke had two goals and two assists for the Warriors on Sunday.

    “Obviously, you want to come back after stuff doesn’t go your way. I think we put it behind us real quick and just focused on what we can control.”

    During Sunday’s game, the Raiders were trading hard-working goals against skilled tallies by the Warriors. The two sides found themselves tied up at 1-1, 2-2, 3-3 and 4-4 as Game 6 progressed.

    Captain Curtis Miske had a goal and three assists for the Raiders, who received singles from Sean Montgomery and Regan Nagy.

    Overage winger Brayden Burke led the Warriors attack scoring his team’s first two goals on sweet snipes and drawing assists on stellar tallies by Jayden Halbgewachs and Moose Jaw captain Brett Howden. Halbgewachs, who had 70 goals during the regular season, actually scored for the first time in the series when he gave his team a short-lived 3-2 lead late in the second period.

Raiders goalie Ian Scott works to keep the Warriors at bay.

    Montgomery scored with 59 seconds to play in the second to send the two teams into the third period locked in a 3-3 tie.

    Burke said he wasn’t surprised that his team’s series with the Raiders, who posted a solid 32-27-9-4 record in the regular season, is going to a Game 7 noting the strength of the East Division, which both teams are in.
    The other first round series between two East Division rivals featuring the Swift Current Broncos, who were 48-17-5-2 in the regular season, and the Memorial Cup hosting Regina Pats, who were 40-25-6-1 in the regular season, is going to a Game 7 to be played in Swift Current on Monday.

Jayden Halbgewachs scored for the Warriors on Sunday.

    The Brandon Wheat Kings, who posted a 40-27-3-2 regular season record playing out of the East Division, eliminated the Central Division champion Medicine Hat Tigers in Game 6 of their series in Dauphin, Man., on Sunday 4-3 in overtime.

    “It is a testament to the division,” said Burke. “I think it is the best division in the league this year.

    “Obviously with both series (featuring East Division teams) going to Game 7, it shows that every team is pretty equal. Even if we get through this round, we are going to have another tough test in the second round.

The Art Hauser Centre crowd cheers a Raiders goal on Sunday.

    “It just shows that a lot of teams are good, and you know you can’t take anything for granted.”

    Warriors head coach Tim Hunter echoed Burke’s statement regarding how tough the East Division was and the challenge his team faced in taking on the Raiders.

    “We didn’t think we were going to sweep this team or beat this team four games to one or whatever,” said Hunter. “We knew we were in a series from the get go.

    “They beat us at home in the first game. We knew they were a good hockey team.”

Curtis Miske celebrates a goal and he had three assists for the Raiders.

    Ian Scott turned away 16 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Raiders. While he didn’t make many saves, he made a number of quality stops, which included sliding across the crease of his net to rob Warriors centre Justin Almeida with a pad stop early in the second period.

    Miske said Scott’s performance has been key to the success the Raiders have had.

    “He (Scott) only had 20 shots, but he made a couple of saves that probably could have been goals,” said Miske. “He played really well.

    “He has been keeping us in every single game. We’re scoring goals, but he has been stopping them (the Warriors). He has been a huge part of our success so far.”

Raiders RW Brett Leason (#20) breaks into the offensive zone on a rush.

    Willms turned away 27 shots to take the setback in goal for the Warriors.

    Going into a series deciding Game 7, the Raiders will be trying to rally back successfully from a 3-1 series deficit for the first time since a second round series in 1996, when they trailed the Pats 3-1 before winning three straight to take the set 4-3.

    Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid said he was confident in his players going into Game 7.

    “Our guys are a great group,” said Habscheid. “They are a together group. They play structured. They don’t cheat the game.

    “They play hard, and when you do that, you are going to give yourself a chance. That is the second ranked team (in the final CHL Top 10 rankings) in the country, and we are one game away.

The Raiders salute their faithful at the Art Hauser Centre on Sunday.

    “We are going to go in there and lay it all on the line and see what happens.”

    Hunter also showed belief in his group noting his Warriors rebounded after falling 5-1 to the Raiders in Game 5 in Moose Jaw on Saturday.

    “We played a lot better tonight than we did last night,” said Hunter. “If we play like we did tonight on home ice on Tuesday, we will win the hockey game.”

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Warriors OK with being hunted

WHL’s top squad knows foes will keep them honest

Brecon Wood (#17) scored a first period goal for the Warriors.

    Jayden Halbgewachs said you can tell his Moose Jaw Warriors are gunned for by every other team in the WHL.

    On Sunday afternoon at the SaskTel Centre, the Warriors took a 3-1 lead against the host Saskatoon Blades only to see that edge evaporate into a 3-3 tie early in the third period. With 7:03 to play in the third, Warriors standout overage right-winger Brayden Burke snuck a bad angle shot home short side on Blades sensational rookie netminder Nolan Maier to give the visitors a 4-3 edge.

    Burke’s goal restored control of the contest to Moose Jaw. Halbgewachs potted his 51^st goal of the season into an empty net with 4.9 seconds to play in the third to seal a 5-3 regular season victory and disappoint most of the 4,511 spectators in attendance.

Brett Howden had a goal and an assist for the Warriors.

    The win was the third in a row for the Warriors and their 11^th victory in their past 12 games. They lead the entire WHL with a 38-7-1-2 record and have a nine point cushion on the 33-11-3-1 Swift Current Broncos for the overall lead in the standings. Moose Jaw is rated second in the Canadian Hockey League’s Top 10 rankings.

    While the Warriors are enjoying what might turn out to be their best campaign in team history, Halbgewachs, an overage right-winger who has spent his entire WHL playing career in Moose Jaw, said the wins haven’t come easy. As the Warriors pile up accolades, Halbgewachs has noticed foes play his side that much harder. He said his team claimed a hard battle on Friday downing the Memorial Cup hosting Pats in Regina 5-3 and had to find a way to outlast the Blades on Sunday.

    “Obviously, everyone wants to take off the top team,” said Halbgewachs. “Each and every night teams are going to want to come in to play us, and they want beat us every time we play them.

    “They are going to play tough against us. We have to bring our game every night and find ways to win, even if we are not having a hot night like tonight. We had a pretty good game in Regina (on Friday).

Jayden Halbgewachs has 51 goals so far this season for the Warriors.

    “Tonight was just an average game for us in which we need to find a way to play our best game every game.”

    The Warriors had a strong campaign last season posting a 42-21-8-1 record in the regular season before falling in a first round playoff series to the Swift Current Broncos in a series deciding seventh game.

    This season, the Warriors have become the team everyone wants to knock off, and they have been forced to stay honest playing in what has become an extra tough East Division.

    The Blades fell to 23-22-2-1 with their loss on Sunday, but Burke said the Saskatoon side hasn’t been an easy out. The two teams have met four times, and the Warriors have come away with three victories including one win in overtime.

Brayden Burke scored the winner for the Warriors.

    “They (the Blades) are a good team,” said Burke. “They work hard.

    “They shoot the puck well. They forecheck well. They have a good system.

    “Even though they are a little lower in the standings, we know they are a good team. If you look at the East Division, there is not a bad team. Every time we come against a team in the East Division, we have to be at our best, if we want to win, and today was no different.”

    The Warriors jumped ahead 1-0 just 1:48 into Sunday’s clash, when captain Brett Howden tapped home a nice backdoor feed form Halbgewachs. Sophomore left-winger Brecon Woods slipped home an off-speed shot at the 11:42 mark of the opening frame to give the Warriors a 2-0 edge.

    Josh Paterson, who was celebrating his 19^th birthday on Sunday, scored for the Blades with 15.4 seconds to play in the first to cut Moose Jaw’s lead to 2-1.

    Just 51 seconds into the second period, Warriors centre Justin Almeida converted a beauty tick-tack-toe passing play from Burke and Howden to put the Warriors up 3-1.

    The Blades, who look lethargic to that point after beating Pats 4-3 in overtime at the SaskTel Centre on Saturday night, came to life on Sunday after the Warriors took their two-goal edge.

Josh Paterson scored twice in the Blades attempted comeback.

    While Moose Jaw continued to have a decent advantage as far as shots on goal were concerned, the Blades were stringing a number of good shifts together and spending lengthy stretches of time in the Moose Jaw zone.

    The host side’s pressure finally resulted in Paterson’s second goal of the contest and an equalizer from left-winger Eric Florchuk early in the third to force a 3-3 tie.

    That set the stage for Burke’s winner and Halbgewachs’ empty-net goal down the stretch.

    “I kind of went to the net and just wacked it there,” said Burke about his winning tally. “It was maybe a little bit of luck to get in there, but I am happy with the goal and happy with the win.”

    Maier turned away 31 of 35 shots to take the setback in goal for the Blades.

The Warriors celebrate their victory over the Blades.

    Saskatoon sits in the second wildcard spot in the WHL’s Eastern Conference with a four point edge over the Prince Albert Raiders (18-20-7-2). The Raiders have a game in hand on the Blades.
    The Blades are four points behind the Pats (24-20-5) for the first wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference with a game in hand.

    Brody Willms stopped 16 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Warriors.

    During the rough patches, Halbgewachs was pleased to see his side never got flustered.

    “Throughout the game, we were just kind of even keel,” said Halbgewachs. “We weren’t really too hot. We weren’t too low.

    “We just kind of rolled through the game. I think we could have played a lot better, but obviously, we got enough chances to win the game. That is the way the game went tonight.”

    The Blades return to action Wednesday, when they travel to Regina to face the Pats. The Warriors are off until this coming Friday, when they travel to Lethbridge to take on the Hurricanes.

Fundraiser underway to have Lazaruk sing national anthem

Blades play-by-play voice Les Lazaruk is participating in a fundraiser.

    A gofundme.com fundraiser is underway to get Les Lazaruk to sing the national anthem before a Saskatoon Blades home game.

    Lazaruk became the Blades play-by-play radio voice at the start of the 1994-95 WHL campaign and he has called 1,794 of their games. If $1,500 is raised, Lazaruk will sing the national anthem before a Blades home game. As of Sunday night, $425 has been raised.

    Lazaruk agreed to this fundraiser as long as the money went to a charity of his choice. He has decided the funds raised will be donated to the Saskatchewan Red Cross to support Pink Day, which is set for February 28.

    Every $20 that is raised will provide a pink shirt to a local child and get them into the Red Cross Pink Day program supporting anti-bullying.

    Those that want to donate to the campaign to get Lazaruk to sing the national anthem can do so by clicking here.

Parker lifts Stars to OT victory with milestone goal

Mackenna Parker achieved another impressive SFMAAAHL milestone.

    Captain Mackenna Parker hit another impressive milestone with the Saskatoon Stars.

    On Sunday at the Agriplace Arena, Parker had two goals - including the winner 22 seconds into overtime - and an assist to lift the Stars to a 3-2 victory over the Notre Dame Hounds. With those two tallies, the skilled centre has scored 74 regular season goals in her career with the Stars to move into a tie with Alyssa Wiebe for second on the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League’s all-time career goals list.

    Wiebe, who is a Saskatoon product, piled up her 74 career goals along with 68 assists for 142 points in 55 career regular season games playing for the Hounds in the SFMAAAHL’s first two seasons of existence from 2006 to 2008. Parker, who is in her fourth season with the Stars, piled up her 74 goals to go along with 72 assists for 146 points in 99 career regular season games.

    Earlier this season, Parker passed Wiebe to sit alone as the second all-time regular season leading scorer in the SFMAAAHL.

    In Sunday’s game, Parker drew an assist on Anna Leschyshyn’s goal 60 seconds into the contest to give the Stars a 1-0 lead. Parker netted her first of the night at the 2:07 mark of the second period to give the Stars a 2-0 lead.

Mackenna Parker leads the SFMAAAHL in scoring with 48 points.

    The Hounds pulled even at 2-2 before the second period ended with short-handed goals coming from the sticks of Portia Eldaun and Lyddi Robart.

    That set the stage for Parker, who played for Canada at the under-18 women’s worlds earlier this month in Dmitrov, Russia, to score her dramatic overtime winner. In 18 regular season games this season with the Stars, the 17-year-old has career highs in goals (25) and assists (23) and leads the SFMAAAHL in scoring with her 48 points.

    Jordan Ivanco turned away 13 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Stars (19-3-1). Kaitlyn Ross turned away 42 shots to take the setback in goal for the Hounds (14-6-1).

    The Stars have collected 55 points in the SFMAAAHL standings coming off 16 regulation victories, three overtime wins and an overtime loss to sit one point back of the Prince Albert Northern Bears (19-3) for first place. The Bears have 56 points in the standings coming from 18 regulation wins and an overtime win. 

    The SFMAAAHL awards three standings points for regulation victories, two points for extra time wins and one point for extra time losses.

    The Bears have a game in hand on the Stars.

    The Stars, who have won five straight contests, return to action on February 8, when they host the Battlefords Sharks at 7:15 p.m. at the Agriplace Arena.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Broncos big guns bust up Warriors in Game 4

Lindgren and Steenbergen combine for five goals in victory

The Broncos celebrate Ryley Lindgren’s first of three goals.

    SWIFT CURRENT – The Swift Current Broncos big guns proved to be too much for the Moose Jaw Warriors to handle.

    On Wednesday night before a raucous sellout crowd of 2,890 at the Credit Union i-Plex, overage centre Ryley Lindgren picked up a hat trick and winger Tyler Steenbergen potted a pair of goals to deliver the host Broncos to a 5-2 victory over the Warriors in Game 4 of a WHL first round playoff series. The win allowed the Broncos to even the best-of-seven set at 2-2 with Game 5 set for Friday at 7 p.m. at Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw.

    “They’ve been really good,” said Broncos head coach and director of player personnel Manny Viverios. “They’ve been good for us all year.

Overage centre Ryley Lindgren was on fire for the Broncos.

    “The same with Moose Jaw. Their big guns have carried them all year, and they have been really good in this series also too.

    “It is not a surprise for us. They (Lindgren and Steenbergen) stepped up, when we needed them the most.”

    The Broncos stormed out of the gates on Wednesday with Lindgren scoring just 59 seconds into the contest on his team’s second shot of the game. The East St. Paul, Man., product added his second goal on his club’s third shot of the game just 64 seconds after his first tally to put the host up 2-0.

    The surge didn’t stop there. Steenbergen picked up his first of the contest at the 8:57 mark of the opening stanza to give the Broncos a 3-0 edge to put the sellout crowd into a frenzy.

Winger Tyler Steenbergen powered the Broncos side with a pair of goals.

    Lindgren said his side really wanted pressure Warriors star netminder Zach Sawchenko as much as possible on Wednesday.

    “Today, we really just focused on working hard and wanting it more than them,” said Lindgren. “I think we came out and really crashed the net.

    “That is what we wanted to do was throw pucks at his (Sawchenko’s) feet and get there. We had some good bounces today. The scoreboard showed that, and it was definitely nice to get the win at home here.”

    The Warriors didn’t go away as their star players also ensured they were heard from. Just 76 seconds into the second period, Warriors captain Brett Howden scored on a power play to cut the Swift Current lead to 3-1.

Broncos F Arthur Miller and Warriors G Zach Sawchenko lung for a puck.

    Just 69 seconds after that tally, Warriors defenceman Josh Brook drove a point blast home on another power-play opportunity to cut the Broncos edge to 3-2. Wingers Jayden Halbgewachs and Brayden Burke picked up assists on both Moose Jaw goals.

    The Warriors were unable to beat Broncos overage netminder Jordan Papirny from that point. He made 30 stops to pick up the win in goal.

    “They’ve been coming all series, and we’ve been pushing back,” said Lindgren. “I think it is just the way we responded today was unbelievable.

    “I’m so proud of the group we have here. Paps (Papirny) in net has been unbelievable for us. I am kind of speechless right now.”

    With 63 seconds to play in the third, Steenbergen muscled his way in to score an empty-net power-play goal to put the Broncos up 4-2.

Broncos defenceman Max Lajoie gets set to drive a shot on goal.

    Lindgren added his hat trick goal on another power-play chance with 14.8 seconds remaining in the third cement the 5-2 final. Defenceman Max Lajoie picked up assists on the final two Broncos goals.

    Sawchenko turned away 20-of-24 shots to take the loss in goal for Moose Jaw.

    Steenbergen was impressed with the support of the Swift Current faithful.

    “They were unbelievable,” said Steenbergen. “These two game they’ve been behind our backs the whole time.

    “We want to play for them. I’m sure they are going to be just as loud coming home waiting for Game 6 (on Saturday).”

    Going into Game 5 in Moose Jaw, Steenbergen said his Broncos have to keep up their physical play. The Broncos delivered a number of big bodychecks in Wednesday’s win.

    “We just have to keep hitting them,” said Steenbergen. “I think we are wearing them down a little bit.

    “If we keep doing that, we should come away with this series. Hopefully, we come back here for Game 6 up 3-2.”

Bus crash memorial a must see

The Swift Current Broncos bus crash memorial.

    For anyone that visits Swift Current, one of the sites that is a must see is the memorial for the Swift Current Broncos bus crash.

    On December 30, 1986, the Broncos had departed to Regina to face the Pats but never made to the Saskatchewan capital that day. Just east of Swift Current, the team’s bus crashed killing four players in Trent Kresse, Scott Kruger, Chris Mantyka and Brent Ruff.

    I know for myself having covered the WHL for 18 seasons, I have met a number of people whose lives were impacted by this crash. A four leaf clover monument was placed on the site of the crash earlier this season, and it is perfect way to remember the four players who passed away that terrible day.

    When you are at the memorial itself, it is easy to get emotional.

    All those that made the creation of this memorial possible should be given high praise.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

Sawchenko, Warriors stone Pats

Warriors goalie Zach Sawchenko stops Pats centre Jake Leschyshyn.

    REGINA - If you want to beat the premier team in major junior hockey, it helps to have a premier goalie.

    Moose Jaw Warriors netminder Zach Sawchenko was a WHL Eastern Conference first team all-star last season, and he is showing he is worthy of another all-star node in the current campaign.
    On Saturday night in Regina, Sawchenko made 39 saves, which included a staggering 22 stops in the third period, to back his Warriors to a 4-1 victory against the host Pats at the Brandt Centre.

    The Pats, who had won four in a row, were the top rated team in the Canadian Hockey League’s top 10 rankings and hadn’t lost in regulation time at home until Saturday’s setback. The Warriors, to their credit, have been a powerhouse in the WHL this season.

Tyler Brown stops a high shot for the Pats.

    Regina entered the third trailing their arch-rivals 3-1 and threw what seemed like everything including the kitchen sink at Sawchenko. The 19-year-old Calgary product turned away every test and saw shots through solid screens.

    Late in the third period, Sawchenko turned away Pats star centre Sam Steel, who fired a shot on goal from close range through a screen.

    Sawchenko said his team was trying to avoid a repeat result from the last trip to Regina. Back on Dec. 17, the Warriors took a 3-2 lead into the third only to fall 7-3, while being outshot 23-8 in the third period of that contest.

    “When you are called upon in this sport, you kind of have to do your job,” said Sawchenko. “I think the last time we were here we kind of blew the lead in the third and that was something that left us with a sinking feeling through Christmas break.

    “We definitely had this one circled on our calendar that is for sure. As for the screens, I just try to battle through. Obviously, the team needed a save there.

The Warriors celebrate a goal from Tristin Langan.

    “We couldn’t give them all the momentum and just be pushed back on our heels anymore.”

During Saturday clash between arguably the CHL’s greatest rivals, Sawchenko said he was in a zone.

    “I think the biggest thing was I was just seeing the puck really well,” said Sawchenko. “The team did a great job just clearing out those lanes and taking away second opportunities and just allowing me to see the puck and kind of do my thing out there.”

    For the longest time, it seemed the Warriors weren’t going to need any heroics from Sawchenko. Before a sellout crowd of 6,484 spectators that included a healthy contingent from Moose Jaw, the Warriors jumped out to a 2-0 lead at the 3:10 mark of the first with goals coming from the sticks of Tristin Langan and Jayden Halbgewachs.

Pats rearguard Connor Hobbs (#44) makes a poke check.

    The Warriors controlled play for the opening 10 minutes, but the Pats pushed back in the final 10 minutes of the first resulting in a net scramble goal from Steel to cut the Moose Jaw edge to 2-1.

    In the second, the Warriors had the Pats boxed into their own end for most of the frame. Working on a power play, Warriors star centre Brett Howden netted his 20^th goal of the season to give the visitors a 3-1 edge heading into the second intermission.

    Pats star defenceman Connor Hobbs was disappointed with his team’s effort.

    “There is no excuse for how we played tonight,” said Hobbs. “It wasn’t good enough.

    “They outworked us in our own end. They were cycling around us and tiring us out and out changing us even in our own home rink. That is just unacceptable.”

    Regina tried to rally in the third holding a 22-5 edge in shots on goal in the frame. Sawchenko almost prevented the rally from happening by himself. Halbgewachs sealed victory for the Warriors icing the contest with an empty-net goal with 67 seconds to play.

    “We played really as a team in the first two periods, and we got away from playing that way in the third and gave up way too many shots,” said Warriors head coach Tim Hunter. “We played a little terrified in the third.

Zach Sawchenko makes a stop for the Warriors.

    “We weren’t moving out feet and getting pucks and getting them in behind their (defence). We allowed them to play in our end way too much. They are a good team.

    “If you allow them that, they are going to get territory and get shot opportunities. Sawchenko showed the great goaltender he is tonight and that was the difference in the third period for sure.”

    Tyler Brown turned away 34-of-37 shots in goal for the Pats, who fell to 27-4-6-1 and remain first overall in the WHL. The Warriors won their fourth in a row to improve to 25-9-6-1 and close to within four points in the standings on the Pats. Regina had three games in hand on Moose Jaw.

Pats head coach and general manager John Paddock thought his team was emotionally flat in Saturday’s loss.

    “I think you saw the product of not having to be at an emotional high level all the time,” said Paddock. “You just can’t turn it on and off. They were the better team.

The Warriors celebrate their 4-1 victory over the Pats.

    “We wanted to play, but we couldn’t play. They did a good job of not allowing us to. We did some things we don’t usually do.”

    Sawchenko was pleased with Saturday’s win, and despite how well everything went for him in goal, he still believes he can rise to a higher level.

    “I am just trying to get better every day,” said Sawchenko. “Obviously, I never want to take a step backwards.

    “I am always just trying to climb up this ladder here. It doesn’t matter if it is against Regina or it is against Prince Albert, I have a job to do, and there is no exception. Obviously, I have to go out there and do my job every night.

    “I don’t think this is the best I have ever been. I am just trying my best to get better every day.”

    The Warriors return to action on Tuesday, when they host the Tri-City Americans. The Pats return to action Friday, when they host the Americans.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

Warriors’ Luka knows offence

16-year-old nets three points in 5-1 win over Blades

Luka Burzan, second from right, celebrates scoring for the Warriors.

    Luka Burzan appears to be one of the select few that can make and immediate impact in the WHL as a 16-year-old rookie.

    The Surrey, B.C., product was selected by the Moose Jaw Warriors in the first round and sixth overall in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft, and he made a name for himself by piling up the points coming up through the minor hockey ranks in southern British Columbia.

    Even with that in mind, most first round WHL Bantam Draft selections usually experience their share of bumps as 16-year-old rookies, and they will often have break out campaigns later in in their careers.

    On Thursday night before 3,302 spectators at the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon against the host Blades, Burzan showed he is ready to break out now. The skilled forward netted the Warriors first two goals, picked up an assist on his squad’s third marker and helped power Moose Jaw to a 5-1 victory. In 15 appearances so far this season, Burzan has seven goals, six assists and is a plus-four in the plus-minus department.

    He also picked up his points playing right wing on a line that contained a pair of 18-year-old standouts in centre Noah Gregor and Russian import Nikita Popugaev playing left wing. Burzan envisioned himself playing in a top six forward role with the Warriors as a 16-year-old rookie.

Luka Burzan gets set up in the offensive zone.

    “Coming into this season, I thought I would just try to get better this summer and just try to work my hardest,” said Burzan. “Coming into this season, that was my goal was to get in the top six and get this opportunity. I am just trying to take advantage of it.”

    Against the Blades, Burzan showed he has the smarts to take advantage of good opportunities. With 1:21 to play in the first period, Burzan converted a nice pass from Gregor coming across the face of the Saskatoon goal and easily popped the puck into an open cage to give the visitors a 1-0 edge. It was a goal Blades netminder Brock Hamm had no chance at stopping.

    Just 1:40 into the second, Burzan received a nice feed from Popugaev and snapped home a low wrist shot stick side on Hamm to put the Warriors up 2-0. Burzan has found it easy to play alongside Gregor and Popugaev.

    “They are two very great players,” said Burzan. “They move the puck really well.

    “They are very smart. They have good vision. When I am playing with them, it makes it way easier.”

    At the seven-minute mark of the second, Burzan set up Gregor in the slot, and he blew home a shot to put the visitors up 3-0.

Warriors centre Noah Gregor zips wide around a Blades defenceman.

    Blades captain Wyatt Sloboshan stopped the bleeding momentarily just 23 second later sneaking home a goal between the legs of Warriors netminder Zach Sawchenko to cut Moose Jaw’s edge to 3-1.

    Before the second ended, Warriors centre Jayden Halbgewachs scored on the power play to give the visitors a 4-1 edge. Gregor rounded out the game’s scoring with a short-handed breakaway goal in the third.

    Zawchenko made 32 save to pick up the win in goal for the Warriors, who improved to 12-4-4. The star 19-year-old goalie came up huge in the first period turning away 15 shots. The Blades were carrying the play in the contest until Burzan popped home his two goals.

    Hamm, who has struggled all season, turned away 30 shots to take the loss in goal for the Blades, who fell to 9-12-1.

    Blades head coach Dean Brockman said his squad had too many break downs defensively, which allowed the Warriors to roll.

    “It just seems like every time we make a mistake it ends up in our net,” said Brockman.

    Burzan believes his Warriors have the talent to challenge the WHL’s elite teams like their arch rivals the Regina Pats, who are an impressive 15-0-3.

Blades head coach Dean Brockman glances at a scoreboard replay.

    Moose Jaw’s depth became stronger after acquiring 19-year-old left-winger Brayden Burke in a recent trade with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Burke finished third in league scoring last season with 27 goals and 82 assists.

    The Warriors are also awaiting the return of captain Brett Howden, who is listed as out week to week with a lower body injury. Howden was taken by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round and 27^th overall in last June’s NHL Entry Draft. He had nine goals and five assists in 11 appearances with the Warriors this season before getting hurt.

    “I think we are going to have very good team,” said Burzan. “We are going to have good chemistry.

    “We just need to learn how to compete and play hardest up against these teams like Regina, those hard teams. I think we can compete with them.

    “We will just try to get better as a team, and I think we will have a good season.”

    The Warriors travel to Swift Current on Friday to take on the Broncos. The Blades head to Brandon to face the Wheat Kings on Friday and Saturday night.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.