Four straight games against teams near or literally just behind them in the standings, all with some of the best records in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League.
Of course, that list includes the SMAAAHL-leading Warriors – and after they closed out the stretch on Thursday with a tough 5-3 loss to the Contacts in Saskatoon, they’re still in top spot, albeit with a bit of company.
The Warriors sit at 21-8-0-1, good enough for 43 points and a tie for first with the Contacts, who hold a 21-8-1-0 mark. Throw in the goals-for goals-against differential, though, and the Tribe are still the best in the league with 128 goals for and 67 against for a plus-61 total.
Interestingly enough, the Warriors probably deserved a better fate in Saskatoon.
Ben Wourms-Rowe, Caelan Fitzpatrick and Atley Calvert all scored in the first two periods to give the Warriors a 3-0 lead heading into the final frame. It was there the game would turn, though, as the Contacts used their quick-strike offence to score twice early in the period with goals 1:33 apart before tying the game with 5:43 to play and taking a 4-3 lead 42 seconds later. They capped the five-goal period with an empty netter.
Chase Coward got the start in net after recently returning from the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL and turned aside 26 shots.
The Warriors had a week off before heading out on their longest road trip of the season – to Calgary for the Mac’s Midget AAA tournament. And if league records are any indication, they should have a decent shot at making the playoffs.
They open the event against the Calgary Royals on Thursday, Dec. 26 at 2:30 p.m. Moose Jaw time, with the Royals holding a 7-12-3 record and sitting seventh in the Alberta Midget AAA Chrysler Division.
Next up on Friday, Dec. 27 are the Cariboo Cougars of the B.C. Major Midget AAA league, owners of a 15-5-1-1 to sit in fifth place. Game time is 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on the Mac’s website at https://sportscanada.tv/2019macs/FDB.
The Warriors take on the struggling Airdrie Bisons of the Alberta AAA league in their third contest on Sunday, Dec. 29 in a rare 8 a.m. game. The Bisons have a 2-16-2 record and are eighth in their division, with that game broadcast at https://sportscanada.tv/2019macs/MB1.
That sets up what promises to be one of the marquee round robin match-ups of the tournament as the SMAAAHL first-place Warriors will take on the Alberta AAA leading St. Albert Nektar Raiders (17-1-3) on Monday, Dec. 30 at 11:30 a.m.
The top two teams in each division advance to the playoffs beginning New Year’s Eve Day, with the semifinals in the afternoon and gold medal game on New Year’s Day at 3:30 p.m.
