Just too sweet – Warriors relish first WHL championship win

The Warriors celebrate winning the Ed Chynoweth Cup.

MOOSE JAW, Sask. – The championship reality might have been better than the dream for the city of Moose Jaw.

On Wednesday night before a jam packed crowd of 4,732 spectators at the Moose Jaw Events Centre, what seemed like the impossible dream came true. The Moose Jaw Warriors downed the visiting Portland Winterhawks 4-2 in Game 4 of the WHL Championship Series.

With the win, the Warriors swept the best-of-seven set 4-0. They became WHL champions and captured the Ed Chynoweth Cup for the first time in team history.

Denton Mateychuk lifts the Ed Chynoweth Cup.

The Warriors existed for four seasons in Winnipeg before moving to Moose Jaw before the start of the 1984-85 campaign. For star Warriors 20-year-old right-winger and Moose Jaw product Atley Calvert, the moment was something that was beyond special.

“I can’t describe it,” said Calvert, who had an assist in Wednesday’s Game 4 win. “So much work had gone into this and highs and lows throughout the year.

“At the end of the day, I’m going to remember the group of guys, and obviously, the fans. They really helped us this year. It was our goal from day one.

“I knew it was going to be a special year. We had a special group, and we’re going to be brothers forever.”

Wednesday’s win marked the first time a club from “The Friendly City” won the WHL title since the circuit’s inaugural campaign back in 1966-67. In the 1967 post-season, the Moose Jaw Canucks claimed the WHL crown downing the Regina Pats 4-1 in a best-of-seven series for the league title.

Warriors fans celebrate their team’s WHL title win.

When the Warriors arrived in Moose Jaw for the start of the 1985-85 season, they only had four winning records in their first 16 seasons in the Saskatchewan city with a population of about 34,000 people, but their raucous fans continued to back them.

The backing of the fans was not lost on Warriors captain Denton Mateychuk, who was named the MVP of the WHL Playoffs. He was pumped his squad could win the WHL title for the fans.

“It is an unbelievable feeling,” said Mateychuk, who has 11 goals, 19 assists and a plus-19 rating in the plus-minus department in the Warriors 20 post-season games. “It (Moose Jaw) is an awesome city, and they (the fans) deserved it.

Warriors players lift the Ed Chynoweth Cup.

“I’m so glad that we could bring home a championship.”

In Game 4 on Wednesday, the Warriors and Winterhawks entered the second period locked in a 2-2 tie. With 5:53 remaining in the third, the Warriors jumped ahead on the scoreboard for good.

Warriors right-winger Rilen Kovacevic jetted into the Portland zone down the right boards. He passed the puck to the top of the right faceoff circle to veteran centre Brayden Schuurman. Schuurman wired home a wrist shot to the top right corner of the Portland goal to give the Warriors a 3-2 lead.

The Warriors lap the ice surface with the Ed Chynoweth Cup.

Warriors standout overage import left-winger Martin Rysavy sealed victory and a 4-2 outcome in favour of the host side potting a long distance empty-net goal from deep in his own zone with 2:27 remaining in the third. From that point on, the celebration in the crowd was in full swing.

Schuurman scored the overtime winner one night earlier in the Warriors 4-3 victory over the Winterhawks in Game 3 at the Moose Jaw Events Centre. When his eventual winner went into the Portland net in Game 4, Schuurman said he had goosebumps.

“I think this crowd just was so loud,” said Schuurman. “The players were just so fired up.

Brayden Schuurman scored the winning goal in Game 4.

“It was just pure joy and pure excitement.”

Schuurman was pleased he was able to deliver in a big moment for his team in Game 4.

“It was such a tight checking game,” said Schuurman. “We knew it was going to come down to the wire.

“We knew they were going to push. We had the confidence in our group that we were going to come out on top.”

Back in the game’s first period, Rysavy gave his squad a 1-0 lead with a power-play marker at the 8:11 mark of the frame. On the play, Warriors star centre Brayden Yager took a shot from the right side boards that was stopped by Winterhawks star netminder Jan Spunar. 

Martin Rysavy had a pair of goals for the Warriors in Game 4.

The puck sat as a short rebound in front of the Portland net and Rysavy popped home the loose puck to give the host side their one goal edge.

With 7:30 remaining in the opening frame, the game was delayed for 15 minutes as part of the lighting in the building went out due to adverse weather that existed in the city for a short time. That wouldn’t slow up either side in the contest.

Inside the final six minutes of the second period, the teams combined for a surge of three goals. With 5:29 remaining in the second, the Winterhawks found themselves working on a power play.

Winterhawks star offensive-defenceman Luca Cagnoni took a shot from the point that deflected off the stick of Winterhawks captain Gabe Klassen and then off the stick of 19-year-old centre Kyle Chyzowski into the Moose Jaw goal. That tally evened the score at 1-1.

Warriors fans cheer their team in Game 4 on Wednesday.

The Warriors jumped ahead 2-1 with 4:23 remaining in the second on a goal from star centre Matthew Savoie. With a draw in the left faceoff circle in the Portland zone, Calvert won the draw getting the puck to Savoie. Savoie roofed a shot from the top of the left faceoff circle to the top left corner of the Portland goal to restore the Warriors’ one-goal edge.

Portland proceeded to even the score at 2-2 with 86 seconds remaining in the second. Star Winterhawks centre Nate Danielson had the puck in the left corner of the Moose Jaw zone below the icing line.

Kyle Chyzowski had the Winterhawks first goal in Game 4.

He passed the puck across the face of the net to left-winger Marcus Nguyen at the right side of the net. Nguyen popped the puck home on a backdoor tap to pull the visitors even on the scoreboard.

That set the stage for the dramatics for Schuurman to come through with his winner in the third and Rysavy to complete a two-goal night scoring his empty-netter.

Warriors head coach Mark O’Leary was proud that Schuurman came through with a winning goal for a second straight night.

“To know what he went through just to get himself in the lineup these last two games makes it even more special,” said O’Leary. “He spent so much time on the trainer’s table.

Marcus Nguyen scored the Winterhawks second goal in Game 4.

“Again, he was a game time decision yesterday and today. For him to gut that out and score two huge goals, it is just fitting.”

O’Leary, who originally joined the Warriors as an assistant coach before the start of the 2012-13 campaign, was pumped his club could win the WHL title for Moose Jaw.

“It means everything,” said O’Leary. “Moose Jaw, I consider it home now.

“I came here 12 years ago. I met my wife here. It is home.

“To see how much it means to them, it is unbelievable. I can’t wait to share it with them.”

Matthew Savoie had the Warriors second goal on Wednesday.

Jackson Unger stopped 24 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Warriors. Spunar turned away 22-of-25 shots to take the setback in net for the Winterhawks.

Schuurman was pumped his club could deliver a championship win for the fans.

“This is huge for the city of Moose Jaw,” said Schuurman. “Us players, we wanted to get it done for our group as well as the city.

“We’ve had them behind us the whole year, and this playoffs they’ve been incredible. It is really special to bring it home.”

During the regular season, the Winterhawks finished third overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 48-15-4-1 mark and were rated fifth in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings. The Warriors finished fifth overall in the WHL regular season with a 44-21-0-3 mark.

Denton Mateychuk was MVP of the WHL Playoffs.

The Warriors and Winterhawks met once during the regular season back on February 28. Moose Jaw took that encounter 4-3 at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland.

The WHL final between the two sides was expected to be tightly contested. The games were tightly contested with the Warriors always finding a way to pull out victory. Mateychuk said the Winterhawks played hard.

“They’re a very good team,” said Mateychuk. “We just maybe capitalized on a bit more opportunities than they did.

“They had a couple of posts in Game 1. Game 1 could have went either way, and that could change the series. In the end, we stayed with it and got it done.”

The Warriors begin celebrating their WHL title win.

With winning the WHL title, the Warriors advance to the Memorial Cup tournament that determines a CHL champion. The Memorial Cup starts on May 24 and runs through to June 2 in Saginaw, Michigan.

The Drummondville Voltigeurs have advanced to the event as the QMJHL champions. On Wednesday night, the London Knights swept the OHL Championship Series 4-0 after downing the Generals in Oshawa 7-1 in Game 4 of that series. The Saginaw Spirit, who fell in the OHL semifinal round in six games to the Knights, are the host squad.

The Warriors will open the tournament against the host Spirit on May 24 at a time to be announced.

Mateychuk said the Warriors will turn their collective attention towards the Memorial Cup soon. For the moment, they wanted to enjoy winning the WHL title and feel proud about advancing through the WHL Playoffs with a 16-4 record.

Brayden Schuurman enjoys a WHL title win with family.

“It is unbelievable,” said Mateychuk. “The guys played great.

“We had a hard series against Saskatoon, and we kept pushing. We didn’t give up. We came into this, and we had all the confidence in the world.

“I think that helped.”

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OT victory puts Warriors one win away from first WHL crown

Schuurman nets extra time winner in Game 3 of title series

The Warriors and their fans celebrate their OT win on Tuesday.

MOOSE JAW, Sask. – “The Hangar” was loud on Tuesday night, and it might be even louder on Wednesday night.

On Tuesday play before 4,641 spectators at the Moose Jaw Events Centre, which is also known as “The Hanger,” the host Moose Jaw Warriors found themselves locked in a 3-3 tie heading to overtime in Game 3 of the WHL Championship Series against the Portland Winterhawks. It didn’t take long for the Warriors to make the jam packed crowd bring their loudest cheers of the night.

Just 2:20 into overtime, Warriors 19-year-old right-winger Rilen Kovacevic drove into the Portland zone on a rush and wired a shot from the front of the Winterhawks net off the crossbar. The puck came down to the left side of the Portland net.

Brayden Schuurman had the OT winner for the Warriors.

Warriors veteran centre Brayden Schuurman got to the loose puck and popped it into an open cage to deliver his squad to a 4-3 victory. As Schuurman’s tally entered the net, the crowd at the Moose Jaw Events Centre exploded with their loudest cheers since the building opened on August 19, 2011.

The win allowed the Warriors to take a commanding 3-0 lead in best-of-seven set to claim the Ed Chynoweth Cup. They will try to close the series out and attempt to win their first WHL championship in team history in Game 4 on Wednesday at 8 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.

The last team from “The Friendly City” to win the WHL title was the Moose Jaw Canucks in the circuit’s inaugural season back in the 1966-67 campaign. The Canucks downed the Regina Pats 4-1 in a best-of-seven series in 1967 for the league title.

Lucas Brenton had the Warriors first goal on Tuesday.

The Winterhawks, who are one of the WHL’s most storied teams, didn’t allow the Warriors to have anything easy in Game 3 on Tuesday. Portland came out with a spirited effort.

Still, the Warriors broke through on the scoreboard on a goal from defensive-defenceman Lucas Brenton at the 4:22 mark of the opening frame. Brenton found himself beside just off the left of the Portland goal and he tapped home a backdoor feed from the right side of the goal by Kovacevic to give the host side a 1-0 lead.

As raucous as the fans got after Brenton’s goal, the Winterhawks brought the crowd’s volume level down a short time later. Just 2:19 after Brenton’s tally, Winterhawks rookie right-winger Ryan Miller, who just turned 17-years-old, sprung 18-year-old rookie left-winger Tyson Yaremko on a breakaway. Yaremko sniped home a shot to the low left side of the Moose Jaw net to even the score at 1-1.

The Warriors faithful cheer a goal from Lucas Brenton.

Shortly after Yaremko’s goal, the Warriors found themselves on the power-play, but Winterhawks star centre Nate Danielson ended up delivering a big play. Getting the puck deep in the Moose Jaw zone, Danielson cut past Warriors star centre Brayden Yager and Warriors star netminder Jackson Unger to pop home a backhander for a short-handed goal that gave the Winterhawks a 2-1 lead at the 8:34 mark of the first.

That marked the first time Portland led at any point in any game of the series. The Winterhawks exited the opening frame holding their 2-1 lead and a 16-12 edge in shots on goal.

Tyson Yaremko had the Winterhawks first goal on Tuesday.

The second period became Denton Mateychuk time for the Moose Jaw Warriors. Working on a power play early in the frame, Warriors star centre Matthew Savoie passed the puck from the right side boards to Mateychuk at the top of the right faceoff circle.

The Warriors captain wired home a wrist shot to the top right corner of the Portland net passed a screened star Winterhawks netminder in Jan Spunar to even the score at 2-2 at the 3:37 mark of the frame.

With 2:41 remaining in the second, Savoie looked like he might have gotten away with a slight of hand play to give the Warriors a 3-2 lead on a rebound from a scoring attempt by Warriors star right-winger and WHL player-of-the-year Jagger Firkus. Firkus tried to score on a Michigan style lacrosse shot and the puck from his shot rebounded off the crossbar of the Portland net.

Nate Danielson scored a short-handed goal for the Winterhawks.

Savoie knocked the rebound as it was in the air into the Portland goal with his hand, and the officials at first ruled it was a goal. After going to a video review, it was determined Savoie knocked the puck in with his hand and the goal was disallowed.

The Warriors would go on the power play as Winterhawks offensive-defenceman Luca Cagnoni was penalized for high-sticking on that play.

That ensuing power play gave Mateychuk a chance to strike again. Working that man advantage, Warriors 20-year-old star right-winger Atley Calvert had the puck below the icing line off to the right of the Portland net.

Denton Mateychuk scored two power-play goals for the Warriors.

Calvert placed a pass up centre ice to Mateychuk at the top of the left faceoff circle. Mateychuk wired home his second power-play goal of the night to the right side of the Portland net to put the Warriors up 3-2 with 2:30 remaining in the second. Moose Jaw took that advantage into the second intermission.

There was about a 10 minute delay in starting the third period as the Zamboni flood watered on the ice too much in the second intermission. The Zamboni had to come again out on the ice to get the playing surface right for the third frame to get underway.

The Winterhawks didn’t go away. At the 3:56 mark of the third, Winterhawks standout left-winger Marcus Nguyen threw a puck from the left side boards in the Moose Jaw zone in the direction of the Warriors goal. The puck deflected off Warriors offensive-defenceman Kalem Parker into the Moose Jaw net to allow the visitors to pull even at 3-3.

Matthew Savoie had a goal that was disallowed.

That set the stage for the contest to go to overtime and Schuurman to come through with his winner.

Unger stopped 30 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Warriors. Spunar turned away 32 shots to take the setback in net for the Winterhawks.

Kovacevic, Yager and Ethan Semeniuk each recorded two assists in the win for the Warriors. Moose Jaw improved to 9-0 in the post-season when leading a game after two periods. The Warriors have also won their last five straight games.

During the regular season, the Winterhawks finished third overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 48-15-4-1 mark and were rated fifth in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings. The Warriors finished fifth overall in the WHL regular season with a 44-21-0-3 mark.

Brayden Yager had a pair of assists for the Warriors.

The Warriors and Winterhawks met once during the regular season back on February 28. Moose Jaw took that encounter 4-3 at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland.

The WHL final between the two sides was expected to be tightly contested. The Warriors have pulled out two victories by one goal to take their 3-0 series lead.

The Warriors existed for four seasons in Winnipeg before moving to Moose Jaw before the start of the 1984-85 campaign. 

In their first 16 seasons in Moose Jaw, the Warriors had only four winning records, but their raucous fans continued to back them.

Brayden Schuurman is cheered by the fans as he heads off the ice.

Now, we get to see if the Warriors can deliver the biggest post-game party Moose Jaw has ever seen with a WHL championship clinching victory on home ice. For Warriors fans, this moment is so close it almost might not seem real that it could happen.

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Warriors fly to new heights, Winterhawks unravel

Moose Jaw leads WHL final 2-0 heading home to “The Hangar”

Atley Calvert and the Warriors lead the WHL final 2-0.

After two games of the WHL Championship Series, it has become clear which team has been more battle tested.

On Saturday in Game 2 of the WHL final, the Moose Jaw Warriors look as composed as football quarterback Tom Brady leading a team down the field on a game winning touchdown drive in the Super Bowl. The Portland Winterhawks came unglued as the game went on and looked like a five-year-old that didn’t get his or her way.

When the dust settled at game’s end, the Warriors skated away with a sound 5-1 victory over the Winterhawks. Most of the 7,361 spectators in attendance at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland exited the rink in somber fashion. Portland was well known throughout the WHL in having one of the best home ice advantages on the circuit in the post-season, and Moose Jaw neutralized that factor.

The Warriors claimed both of the first two games hosted in Portland squeaking out a 3-2 victory in Game 1 on Friday. They lead the best-of seven series 2-0.

To make the situation even tougher for the Winterhawks, they now head in to a buzz saw as the next three games will be held in Moose Jaw at the Moose Jaw Events Centre, which is also known as “The Hangar.”

Game 3 of the series is set for Tuesday at 8 p.m., and Game 4 follows on Wednesday at 8 p.m. If necessary, Game 5 is slated for this coming Friday at 8 p.m.

The Warriors are known for having one of the WHL’s most passionate fanbases. When the franchise left Winnipeg and arrived in Moose Jaw in 1984, the Warriors had only four winning records in their first 16 seasons in “The Friendly City.”

Still, the fans packed the team’s old home rink in the Moose Jaw Civic Centre, which was best known as “The Crushed Can,” and made the building one of the most raucous on the whole circuit. Opposing teams played against both the Warriors and their fans. The fans created a noise that had a force to it.

In the current day, you can bet those same fans will be out to prove Moose Jaw still has one of the best home ice advantages in the WHL at “The Hangar.” The fact the Warriors lead the WHL final 2-0 and need just two more wins to capture the Ed Chynoweth Cup means the fans in Moose Jaw will be absolutely giddy. They will be ready to create noise and help their team to try and win the series at home on top of capturing a championship the franchise has yet to win.

Jagger Firkus had two goals and an assist for the Warriors.

It would also be the first WHL title win for the city of Moose Jaw since the Moose Jaw Canucks franchise won the league championship the first time it was awarded back in 1967.

The Warriors and Winterhawks entered the WHL Championship Series both possessing great skill. Over the first two games, the Warriors have been a step ahead of the Winterhawks tactically.

Moose Jaw has shown to be battle hardened after winning a thrilling Eastern Conference Championship Series in seven games over the Saskatoon Blades. That series saw six contests finish in overtime and had seemingly endless momentum changes due to adjustments made by players and coaches.

The Warriors players are seemingly in a state where they aren’t going to get derailed by any ups and downs of a game. They are ready to keep battling and keep pushing ahead.

The Winterhawks seemingly haven’t adjusted tactically to what the Warriors have thrown at them. The Warriors have been able to clog up the centre ice zone taking away the Winterhawks speed and have created turnovers and jumped on the counterattack.

Portland’s players seem frustrated that their sheer skill isn’t enough to overcome their foes. As Game 2 went on, it became a more common sight to see Winterhawks players engaging in scrums. They have shown a lack of composure and perseverance.

The Warriors got out to a quick start in Game 2. At the 5:48 mark of the first, the Warriors broke into the Portland zone on a two-on-one rush with 20-year-old right-winger Atley Calvert coming up the left wing with the puck and centre Matthew Savoie coming down the right wing.

Calvert passed the puck over to Savoie, and Savoie dished it back to Calvert, who was staring at an open net. Calvert popped the puck into the empty cage to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead.

The Winterhawks came with a push back. With about 9:32 remaining in the first, Winterhawks star right-winger James Stefan got into the Moose Jaw zone on a contested breakaway. He put a backhand shot on goal that was turned away by Warriors star netminder Jackson Unger.

Brayden Yager scored the Warriors third goal on Saturday.

When the opening frame ended, the Warriors held a 1-0 edge on the scoreboard, and the Winterhawks had an 11-8 edge in shots on goal. The host side started to sink in quicksand in the second frame.

Just before the midway point of the second, Warriors overage import right-winger Martin Rysavy broke into the Portland zone down the right wing. He passed to the puck to 18-year-old left-winger Pavel McKenzie, who was positioned in front of the net.

McKenzie did a half toe drag and snapped a shot home past Winterhawks star import netminder Jan Spunar for his second of the post-season that gave the Warriors a 2-0 lead.

After falling behind 2-0, the Winterhawks seemingly started getting involved in more scrums. With 3:24 remaining in the second, a rare fight in the WHL Playoffs ensued between Winterhawks star left-winger Josh Davies and Warriors 19-year-old right-winger Rilen Kovacevic.

Just 84 seconds after that fight, two of the Warriors biggest stars made an impact on the contest. Warriors right-winger and WHL player of the year Jagger Firkus sprung Warriors centre and the winner of the WHL’s most sportsmanlike player award Brayden Yager in on a breakaway to the Portland net. Yager fired home a shot to the top right corner of the Winterhawks goal to put the Warriors advantage out to 3-0.

At that point out of nowhere, it appeared the Winterhawks got a traction moment. Warriors captain and the WHL’s defenceman of the year Denton Mateychuk made a rare error.

Mateychuk was playing the puck behind his own net, and he was pressured on the forecheck by Winterhawks standout right-winger Marcus Nguyen. The Warriors blue-liner proceeded to throw a blind backhand pass up centre ice.

Winterhawks star centre Nate Danielson quickly knocked home the errand pass into the Moose Jaw net to trim the Warriors lead to 3-1.

During a stoppage a short time later with 36.7 seconds remaining in the second, Warriors head coach Mark O’Leary called a timeout to get his squad calmed down.

Kalem Parker had an assist on the Warriors fifth goal.

In the third, Firkus ensured there would be no Winterhawks comeback. Just 15 seconds into the frame, Firkus got the puck in the right faceoff circle in the Portland zone and roofed a shot to the top left corner of the Winterhawks net to push the Warriors lead out to 4-1.

Firkus added his second of the night working a give and go with offensive-defenceman Kalem Parker at the 5:35 mark of the third to round out the 5-1 final in favour of the visitors. Firkus entered the Portland zone with the puck and dished it to Parker.

Parker skated the puck below the icing line and passed it back to Firkus, who was positioned on the doorstep at the right side of the Portland net. Firkus popped home his second of the night and 14^th of the post-season to give the Warriors their four-goal edge.

The Winterhawks outshot the Warriors 17-4 in the frame, but the Warriors were focused on shutting things down defensively playing most of the frame with their four-goal lead.

Unger stopped 37 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Warriors. Spunar turned away 22 shots to take the setback in net for the Winterhawks.

During the regular season, the Winterhawks finished third overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 48-15-4-1 mark and were rated fifth in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings. The Warriors finished fifth overall in the WHL regular season with a 44-21-0-3 mark.

The Warriors and Winterhawks met once during the regular season back on February 28. Moose Jaw took that encounter 4-3 at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The WHL final between the two sides was expected to be tightly contested, and it still might turn out that way.

In order for that to happen, the Winterhawks need to find some composure and perseverance and make some adjustments. They face a sizable amount of work, if they want the series to return to Portland for a potential Game 6 and possibly a Game 7.

Jackson Unger stopped 37 shots in goal for the Warriors.

At the moment, the Warriors are in the driver’s seat, and they have the inside track when it comes to capturing the WHL title.

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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Good start for Warriors

Moose Jaw takes opener of WHL final 3-2 in Portland

Matthew Savoie had the winner for the Warriors on Friday.

Don’t be making party plans yet for downtown Moose Jaw.

The Moose Jaw Warriors looked good in Game 1 of the WHL Championship Series, but the battle for the Ed Chynoweth Cup is far from over. On Friday night before 6,486 spectators at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon, the Warriors stunned the host Winterhawks 3-2 in Game 1 of the WHL final.

That marked the first time the Warriors have ever won a game in the WHL’s Championship Series. In their lone previous appearance in the WHL final back in 2006, the Warriors were swept 4-0 in the best-of-seven set by the Vancouver Giants.

In Game 1 of this year’s WHL title series, the Warriors came out of the gates flying, and the Winterhawks started out like they were lagged by an airplane flight. The visitors carried play for most of a scoreless first period and built a 2-0 before the second period was six minutes old.

The Winterhawks did find their legs and battled back and had the contest evened up at 2-2 early in the third.

With 3:02 remaining in the third, Warriors star centre Matthew Savoie found himself in close off to the right side of the Portland goal after receiving a pass from star 20-year-old right-winger Atley Calvert. Savoie snipped home his ninth of the post-season to the left side of the net that gave the Warriors their 3-2 lead.

The visitors played composed the rest of the way closing out the game defensively to secure the win.

Major credit for the Warriors win in Game 1 has to go to head coach Mark O’Leary and the rest of the team’s coaching staff. They found a way to get their squad rested up and ready with only two off days since the Warriors claimed Game 7 of the WHL’ Eastern Conference Championship Series 3-2 in overtime against the Blades in Saskatoon on Tuesday.

The Warriors returned to Moose Jaw following the win over the Blades. The Moose Jaw side then proceeded to take a plane flight on Thursday to get out to Portland.

On top of getting rest, the Warriors showed they are battle hardened for the post-season. The experience of going seven games with constant momentum changes against the Blades with six contests going to overtime showed through for the Warriors. No matter what happened in Game 1 against the Winterhawks, the Warriors were seemingly always composed.

Denton Mateychuk scored the Warriors second goal on Friday.

In the opening minutes of the first period on Friday, the Warriors had the Winterhawks pinned in their own zone on the forecheck. Warriors veteran centre Brayden Schuurman had a good early chance, but he was stopped by Winterhawks star netminder Jan Spunar.

The Winterhawks had a bit of a push back after the Warriors initial spurt of momentum, and the hosts had a 6-2 edge in shots on goal seven minutes into the frame.

Moose Jaw carried the momentum for the rest of the frame ultimately holding a 14-8 edge in shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes. The Warriors best two chances to go ahead came while working on a power player shortly after the midway point of the first.

Savoie had the puck at the left side of the Portland net, and his drive was stopped by Spunar but rebounded out to the front of the net. Calvert pounced on the rebound and drove to the net that was also turned away by Spunar.

Just 77 seconds into the second, Savoie used a long backhanded stretch pass to spring Calvert into the Portland zone on a breakaway. Calvert was hooked from behind by Winterhawks star defenceman Luca Cagnoni, and the officials awarded the Warriors forward a penalty shot.

On the penalty shot, Calvert snapped home a low shot stick side to the left side of the Portland net to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead.

The Warriors kept coming and at the 5:43 mark of the second a trio of their biggest stars combined to give the visitors a 2-0 edge. Centre Brayden Yager started the play intercepting a Winterhawks clearing attempt along the right side boards in the Portland zone.

Yager got the puck down low to right-winger Jagger Firkus below the icing line and off to the right of the Portland net. Firkus put a pass across the face the Portland goal backdoor to captain Denton Mateychuk, who pinched down from this defensive position.

Mateychuk popped home his ninth of the post-season to give the Warriors their two-goal edge. That tally for a short time sucked all the wind out the Winterhawks home rink.

Jackson Unger made 31 saves for the Warriors on Friday.

A short time later, the Winterhawks got a big traction moment to get their normally vocal crowd back in the game. Traditionally, the Winterhawks have one of the strongest home ice advantages in the WHL. At the nine-minute mark of the second, Spunar made a long pass out of his own zone to send sophomore centre Diego Buttazzoni jetting into the Moose Jaw zone down the right wing.

From the right wing boards, Buttazzoni snapped home a shot that cut the Warriors lead to 2-1. From that point onward, Warriors star netminder Jackson Unger was tasked with making some big saves to keep the Winterhawks at bay.

The Winterhawks would get the equalizer at the 4:14 mark of the third that forced a 2-2 tie. Winterhawks star left-winger Josh Davies had the puck up high on the left side of the Moose Jaw zone.

He made a long backhanded pass across the front of the Moose Jaw net to Winterhawks captain Gabe Klassen to the low right side of the Moose Jaw goal. Klassen roofed a shot to the top left corner of the Moose Jaw net for the equalizer.

That set the stage for Savoie to come through with his winner late in the frame.

Unger stopped 31 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Warriors, who have won their last three straight games. Spunar turned away 34 shots to take the setback in net for the Winterhawks.

During the regular season, the Winterhawks finished third overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 48-15-4-1 mark and were rated fifth in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings. The Warriors finished fifth overall in the WHL regular season with a 44-21-0-3 mark.

The Warriors and Winterhawks met once during the regular season back on February 28. Moose Jaw took that encounter 4-3 at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The two sides will go at it in Game 2 on Saturday at 7 p.m. local time again at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The pressure will be on the Winterhawks to take that contest to even the series.

After Game 2, the next three games in the series will be held at the Moose Jaw Events Centre in Moose Jaw. Due to the lengthy travel distance between Moose Jaw and Portland, the WHL final is using a two-three-two series format.

Atley Calvert had a goal and an assist for the Warriors on Friday.

If the Warriors are able to take Game 2 of the set on Saturday, it makes the idea much more conceivable a party could be on with the Moose Jaw side raising the Ed Chynoweth Cup in “The Hangar.”

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Babcock feels sense of belonging with Blades

Playoff series with Rebels resumes Tuesday in Red Deer

John Babcock is a steady defenceman with the Blades.

John Babcock belongs in “Blade City.”

The 19-year-old defensive-defenceman had been a career member of the Kelowna Rockets. That all changed on January 10 in a three-way trade involving the Rockets, the Saskatoon Blades and Edmonton Oil Kings before the passing of the WHL’s Trade Deadline.

After that deal, Babcock was heading to Saskatoon to join the Blades. The Blades were a team that reached the WHL’s Eastern Conference Championship series in 2022-23 falling in four games to the Winnipeg Ice.

When Babcock came to the Blades, they were battling for first overall in the WHL and succeeded in topping the regular season standings with a 50-13-2-3 mark. They have 12 players on their roster from their playoff run in 2023, and the returnees included a core that have been either career Blades or members of the team for a long period of time.

Babcock knew he was coming to the team to strengthen up their defensive unit with a focus on protecting the defensive zone. The North Vancouver, B.C., product developed an instant connection with his new teammates and the organization.

“First off, I want to say like I couldn’t be happier being here,” said Babcock, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 204 pounds. “It is such a great spot.

“Coming in, I was very welcomed. We have such a great group in there. Everyone was super, super welcoming.

“For me personally, I have to bring intangibles to every game. I have to be hard to play against and reliable defensively.”

On Sunday, Babcock had one of the key plays that allowed the Blades to down the visiting Red Deer Rebels 2-1 in overtime in Game 2 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series at the SaskTel Centre. In one sequence inside the final eight minutes of the extra session, a scramble occurred in front of the Saskatoon net.

John Babcock came to the Blades in a big trade on Jan. 10.

A shot from Rebels star winger Kalan Lind got through Blades breakout rookie netminder Evan Gardner and was trickling toward the goal-line. Babcock stopped the puck with his skate and kicked it under a fallen Gardner to get a stoppage.

A short time later with 2:59 remaining in the extra session, offensive-defenceman Ben Saunderson scored the overtime winner for the Blades that also gave them a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

“It was definitely nice to get a win,” said Babcock, who had four goals, 13 assists and a plus-26 rating in the plus-minus department in 64 games played between the Rockets and Blades in the 2023-24 regular season. “It is definitely nice, but the job is not finished.”

Now the series shifts to Red Deer for Games 3 and 4 to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday night respectively at 7 p.m. local time at the Peavey Mart Centrium. Last year when the Blades dropped the first three games before rallying for four straight wins in an Eastern Conference semifinal series win over the Rebels, the Saskatoon side won two out of three games in Red Deer.

For Babcock, it will be a new experience playing games in the WHL Playoffs in Red Deer.

“I’ve never played in the post-season in Red Deer,” said Babcock. “From what the guys were saying, it is going to be a great crowd out there.

“Hopefully, we can get two more wins out there.”

Babcock said the Blades, who were rated sixth in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings, expected the series with the Rebels to be a physical one. He thought the physical play increased from Game 1 to Game 2. The blue-liner added it helped his squad played and eliminated their archrivals in the Prince Albert Raiders in five games in the first round of the post-season to get set for the Rebels.

John Babcock loves his teammates with the Blades.

“It (Game 2 versus the Rebels) was definitely a little bit more chippy than in Game 1,” said Babcock. “Personally, I feel like Prince Albert prepared us very well for that.”

When Blades hit the ice for Game 3 against the Rebels in Red Deer, Babcock said his squad has to continue to strive to be as consistent as possible.

“We just have to play our game,” said Babcock. “I feel like we didn’t have the best first two periods, but we have a very mature group.

“I know we’re going to come out flying for Game 3.”

As for Red Deer, Rebels interim head coach Dave Struch liked the improved effort shown by his club in the 2-1 overtime setback in Game 2 compared to the 4-1 loss his club suffered in Game 1 this past Friday. Struch is looking for his players to build off of their showing in Game 2.

“We need this exact same effort that we had (in Game 2),” said Struch. “You bottle up this energy that we had in the third period especially and into overtime and pour it out on the ice.

“I thought the other night was a regular season game that is played in the first month of the year. (Game 2) was a playoff game playing against a good team.”

The Blades will enter Game 3 without the services of star overage left-winger Easton Armstrong. At the 5:59 mark of the third period of Game 2, Armstrong was given a charging major and a game misconduct for bowling over Rebels breakout rookie netminder Chase Wutzke. 

On Monday, the WHL suspended Armstrong for that hit with the length of the suspension to be determined.

Reflecting on Game 2, Blades head coach Brennan Sonne thought his team played with great passion and desperation after the Rebels scored early in the third period to tie the contest at 1-1. 

John Babcock (#55) and the Blades celebrate Sunday’s OT win.

He wants to see his squad play with that passion and desperation for an entire game, and he said his players are good at hearing the messages from the coaching staff.

“I think this team listens,” said Sonne. “I said that the other day.

“It could be structure. It could be compete habits or whatever. When we show them the main three areas that we need to address, it is not like they don’t listen.

“That is all we do. I’m not Al Pacino and the speech or anything like that. We just show, and because they care, because they’re proud Blades and because they love each other, they’ll respond.”

Winterhawks get big bounce in OT in Everett, other notes

A positive bounce on the road has the Portland Winterhawks one win away from the WHL’s Western Conference Championship Series.

On Monday night at the Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Wash., the visiting Winterhawks found themselves locked in a 3-3 tie in overtime with the host Silvertips in Game 3 of a Western Conference semifinal series. With 4:05 remaining in the extra session, Winterhawks offensive-defenceman Carter Sotheran fired a high shot from the point that deflected off the glass behind the Everett net, hit the back of star Silvertips 20-year-old netminder Tyler Palmer and bounced into the Everett goal.

That tally by Sotheran, which was his second goal of the contest, gave the Winterhawks a 4-3 victory before a mainly stunned gathering of 3,431 spectators aside from a contingent of supporters for the Portland side. With the win, the Winterhawks now lead the best-of-seven series 3-0.

Due to scheduling conflicts at the Angel of the Winds Arena, the Winterhawks have to wait until Friday to see if they can close out the series in Game 4 set for 7 p.m. local time.

The Silvertips actually jumped out to 3-0 lead in Game 3 on Monday. Kaden Hammell and Beau Courtney scored in the first period, with Courtney’s tally coming on the power play, to give the host side a 2-0 edge. Just 18 seconds into the second, Silvertips captain Ben Hemmerling netted his fourth goal of the post-season to push Everett’s lead to 3-0.

Before the second frame came to an end, Sotheran, with his first of the contest, and star 20-year-old centre Gabe Klassen scored for the Winterhawks to cut the Silvertips lead to 3-2. Sotheran’s tally came on the power play. Just 42 seconds into the third, Winterhawks 19-year-old centre Kyle Chyzowski tallied on the power play to even the score at 3-3.

At the 3:45 mark of the third, Winterhawks star import netminder Jan Spunar stopped Silvertips centre Carter Bear on a penalty shot.

That set the stage for the dramatics that happened in overtime

Spunar made 44 saves to pick up the win in goal for the Winterhawks. Palmer turned away 46 shots to take the setback in net for the Silvertips.

Sotheran had an assist to go with his two goals. Klassen had a pair of assists to go with his goal. Hemmerling had an assist to go with his marker.

The Winterhawks will be trying to advance to the Western Conference Championship Series for the first time since 2015.

In Game 1 last Friday in Portland, the Winterhawks thumped the Silvertips 8-2. Another lopsided win came in Game 2 one night later in Portland with the Winterhawks coming out on top 6-2.

Originally, it was thought all games of the series between the Winterhawks and Silvertips would be as closely contested as Game 3 was. The Winterhawks finished third overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 48-15-4-1 record and were rated fifth in the final CHL Top 10 rankings. The Silvertips placed fourth overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 45-18-2-3 mark and were rated seventh in the final CHL Top 10 rankings.

• The Eastern Conference semifinal series between the Moose Jaw Warriors and Swift Current Broncos is tied 1-1. The Broncos took Game 1 of the series 7-2 last Friday in Moose Jaw, while the Warriors claimed Game 2 by a 7-2 score on Saturday on home ice. Game 3 is set for Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the InnovationPlex in Swift Current.
• The Prince George Cougars have a 2-0 series lead over the Kelowna Rockets in the Western Conference semifinal series being played between those two clubs. The Cougars claimed the first two games on home ice. Last Friday, they blanked the Rockets 4-0 in Game 1 and followed that up with a 5-0 win in Game 2 on Saturday. Game 3 is set for 7 p.m. local time at Prospera Place in Kelowna.
• If the Saskatoon Blades are able to claim their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Red Deer Rebels, that result would ensure the Eastern Conference Championship Series would be an all-Saskatchewan affair for the first time since 1993. In 1993, the Broncos swept the Regina Pats in the Eastern Conference Championship Series and advanced to win the WHL Championship Series in seven games over the Winterhawks.
• The Blades broke up their bus trip to Red Deer on Monday with a stop to visit elementary school students in Biggar, who came out to cheer on the team bus. Since the Blades have come under the ownership of the Priestner family, they’ve always had a strong ground game when it came to getting into the schools and into the community.
• Warriors offensive-defenceman and captain Denton Mateychuk leads the WHL in post-season scoring with 14 points coming off three goals and 11 assists in six games to go with a plus-nine rating.
• On Saturday, Medicine Hat Tigers 16-year-old rookie left-winger Gavin McKenna was named the winner of the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network’s Bryan Trottier Most Valuable Player Award. The award is given to an Indigenous hockey player who demonstrates on-ice excellence and contributes to the Indigenous community. McKenna led the Tigers in scoring with 97 points coming off 34 goals and 63 assists in 61 regular season appearances.
• On Monday, the WHL handed out its player-of-the-week honours for the week ending on Sunday. Mateychuk was the player of the week, Cougars netminder Joshua Ravensbergen was the goaltender of the week and Blades netminder Evan Gardner was the rookie of the week. Gardner had been rookie of the week three times for the 2023-24 campaign.

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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