Howell Lifts Team White Past Team Black in Intrasquad Game
September 4, 2022 – Western Hockey League (WHL) – Moose Jaw Warriors News Release
Marek Howell finished training camp on a high note, scoring the overtime winner to cap off a two-goal performance in Sunday’s Black and White Intrasquad Game.
Howell and Team White knocked off Team Black, 5-4, in the extra frame to close out the Moose Jaw Warriors’ 2022 training camp at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
“The last few days, especially in main camp, I felt like my presence on the ice has been good and I can make an impact as I go,” Howell, who is entering his rookie season with the Warriors, said.
The Warriors host 68 players for training camp this week with 44 players making it through to the intrasquad game on Sunday.
General manager Jason Ripplinger said he’s pleased with how the camp went.
“It’s been great,” he said. “A lot of players stepped up and it was a real competitive camp and moving forward into the exhibition season, we’re going to be ready to go.
“There was young guys pushing older guys and everybody stepped up, it was a great camp.”
Howell scored twice in Sunday’s intrasquad game after putting together a strong previous three days in scrimmages during rookie and main camp.
The Warriors’ 2021 first round pick said he felt like he improved as the week went on.
“I started off a little slow, just in the practices I didn’t feel great and then once the games came around, I thought I really got going,” he said.
Howell had an opportunity to make his Western Hockey League debut last season, playing in five games and posting a goal and two points.
He said that experience has given him a leg up coming into training camp.
“It was a big part of my development, knowing what it really took to play at this next level,” Howell said. “All summer, just knowing what had to be done to play this year was really big.”
Returning players Atley Calvert and Riley Niven, as well as 2021 draft pick Jake Briltz also scored for Team White in Sunday’s win.
2020 second round pick Ben Riche notched a pair of goals for Team Black in the loss, while Josh Hoekstra picked up a goal and two points, and Eric Alarie had the other marker.
Ripplinger said he liked the pace that the players played at throughout the camp.
“We used our team speed out there, Ben Riche, [Nathan] Pilling, [Brayden Yager], all these players are fast skaters and it was a really quick game,” he said.
This week marked the first time that the Warriors have had an opportunity to see its 2022 draft class on the ice together.
Ripplinger said the players settled in as the camp went on.
“To start they were obviously nervous, but throughout camp, I thought that they dug in and worked hard and ended up improving over camp,” he said.
The Warriors will now open the preseason on Friday when they host the Swift Current Broncos at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
• Discuss this story on the Western Hockey League message board…
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
