Ungar off to Dazzling Start to Season

October 12, 2022 – Western Hockey League (WHL) – Moose Jaw Warriors News Release

The Moose Jaw Warriors acquired Connor Ungar during the offseason to be paired with 17-year-old goalie Jackson Unger and provide a steady, veteran option in net.

Ungar has been that and more for the Warriors over the first few weeks of the regular season.

“He’s been rock solid,” Warriors head coach Mark O’Leary said. “It’s not just the first save, but it’s the battle and compete level to make the second and third one.”

Ungar was named WHL Goalie of the Week on Tuesday after putting together a 2-0-0-0 record to go along with a 0.80 goals against average and a 0.979 save percentage in three appearances last week.

Through five games this season, Ungar has a 4-0-0-0 record and is third in the WHL with a 0.943 save percentage and fifth with a 2.00 goals against average. He’s stopped 148 of 157 shots that he’s faced.

“I’m seeing the puck well and the bounces are going my way, so I feel pretty good,” Ungar said after practice on Tuesday.

Right from the start of training camp, Ungar has exuded calmness between the pipes for the Warriors.

He’s carried that over to the start of the regular season, bringing a confidence to the net that has been key to Moose Jaw’s season so far.

“He’s been unbelievable,” Warriors captain Denton Mateychuk said. “He’s kept us in some games, against Saskatoon the other night, he was lights out and he comes to the rink every day ready to work and to make everybody better.”

Connor Ungar stretches out for a big stop against the Saskatoon Blades on Oct. 5. (Nick Pettigrew/Moose Jaw Warriors)

Last Wednesday, Ungar turned away 40 of 41 shots as the Warriors knocked off the Saskatoon Blades, 4-1, at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.

Ungar followed that up with a 26-save performance on Saturday as Moose Jaw handed the Winnipeg ICE its first loss of the season.

In both games, Ungar made big saves early in the game to swing momentum in the Warriors’ favour. The 20-year-old netminder said he feeds off those big stops.

“You build off any save, but especially when it’s a big one, so making a few big ones helped me keep going and close out the game,” Ungar said.

O’Leary said when Ungar is making the big stops behind the team, it gives them confidence throughout the bench.

“He’s a pro through and through and that instills confidence in the players and coaching staff,” he said.

Mateychuk added that the way Ungar operates day-in and day-out has an impact on the entire team.

“He’s a great guy for the locker room and he’s an unbelievable goalie,” he said.

“When a goalie is rolling, he’s rolling. We’re just as confident with Jackson in there too, but sometimes goalies get rolling and he is and he’s got a lot of confidence right now.”

Ungar and the Warriors will return to the ice coming up on Friday night when they take on the Red Deer Rebels at the Moose Jaw Events Centre. Moose Jaw will also host the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Saturday.

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