Warriors Pick up First Preseason Win, Beating Brandon Friday

September 16, 2022 – Western Hockey League (WHL) – Moose Jaw Warriors News Release

Jagger Firkus is heading off to Seattle Kraken training camp on a high note.

The Moose Jaw Warriors forward picked up a goal and three points to lead the team to a 4-3 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday night at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.

“Confidence is high, that’s for sure,” Firkus said after the win.

In two preseason games, Firkus has posted three goals and five points.

Firkus, who was a second round pick of the Kraken in the 2022 NHL Draft, leaves for the team’s training camp on Saturday.

The Warriors are currently without six regulars in their lineup due to NHL training camps starting this week.

Assistant coach Gord Burnett said the younger players stepped up in Friday’s win.

“We saw a marked improvement by a lot of guys, especially a couple of young guys played really, really well, so you’re always happy to see that,” he said.

Ethan Hughes, who signed with the Warriors coming out of training camp, scored his first WHL preseason goal in the final minute of the second period and it held up as the game-winner.

Burnett said his line with Harper Lolacher and Owen Berge put together a strong game.

“I thought all three of those guys played really, really well,” he said.

After losing their first two preseason games against Swift Current last weekend, the Warriors played a strong game in their final home exhibition contest.

Firkus said the team played with more pace than it did in the first two preseason games.

“It’s getting closer to the regular season, so the tempo is going to be getting quicker and quicker as the games go by here and today was a good example,” he said.

Burnett said it felt more like a regular season game, despite younger lineups for both sides.

“I thought it was turned up a notch and it was faster, more intense, more physical and there was some intensity down at ice level, that was good to see,” he said.

Reigning CHL Rookie of the Year Brayden Yager opened the scoring for the Warriors in his preseason debut, scoring a power play goal late in the first period.

The Wheat Kings responded quickly however with Teydon Trembecky tying the game just 1:04 later.

Nate Danielson gave Brandon a 2-1 lead after one with a power play goal in the final two minutes of the first.

Moose Jaw came out strong to start the second and capitalized when Marek Howell’s point shot found its way through traffic to tie the game at 2-2.

Firkus broke into the slow midway through the second and snapped home his third of the preseason to give the Warriors their second lead of the game.

It was short lived as Danielson responded with his second of the night only 2:23 later, tying the game at 3-3.

Hughes tipped home the eventual game-winner in the final minute of the second period.

20-year-old goalie Connor Ungar did the rest, stopping all eight of the Wheat Kings’ shots in the third to seal the win.

Ungar finished with 26 saves in his Warriors debut, while Brandon outshot Moose Jaw, 29-22, on the night.

These two teams will meet to finish the preseason on Saturday night in Brandon. Tune into all the action on Country 100, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 5:55 p.m.

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