The Western Hockey League is well known for going in cycles when it comes to teams finding success, and if the upcoming WHL Cup Under-16 tournament is any indication, the Moose Jaw Warriors are in fine shape indeed.
A total of five players from the local squad were named to the provincial team tournament on Thursday, offering a small sign of the kind of skill the Warriors could be seeing in a few years.
Leading the way is defenceman Aaron Sawatzky, who was selected by the Warriors in the first round, 16th overall in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft. The Didsbury, Alta. product is suiting up for Airdrie in the Alberta Elite Hockey League U18 division this season and has an assist in four games.
Saskatoon-born defenceman William Degagne was selected in the second round, 38th overall and will play for Team Saskatchewan. Degagne is suiting up for the Saskatoon Blazers of the Sask Male AAA Hockey League and has a goal and two points in four games.
He’ll be joined on Team Sask by Moose Jaw Minor Hockey product Carson Deichert, the Warriors’ third-round pick, 60th overall this past summer. Deichert has suited up in six games for the WINMAR Warriors and has a goal and four points.
Saskatoon forward Davey Fisher rounds out the crew of Warriors on Team Sask, with the ninth-round pick, 192nd overall currently playing for the Saskatoon Contacts and having an assist in four games.
Team B.C. will also have a Moose Jaw Warrior on their roster, with goaltender Micah Davidson cracking their roster. A listed player, Davidson is suiting up for the Okanagan Hockey Academy U15 Prep team and has a 3.53 goals against average and .892 save percentage in two appearances thus far.
Also suiting up for Team Sask will be WINMAR Warriors forward Chase Peterson, who was selected in the second round, 23rd overall by the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Peterson has three goals in six games for the Warriors.
The WHL Cup begins on Wednesday, Oct. 18, with the semifinals set for Saturday, Oct. 21 and medal games on Sunday, Oct. 22. Keep an eye on www.whl.ca for up-to-date scores from the event.
