Hunt named Player of the Week in Virden as four Warriors taking ice in Junior A leagues

The Moose Jaw Warriors have four players currently taking the ice in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and Manitoba Junior Hockey League as the WHL season remains on hold.

With the Western Hockey League announcing last week that players would be available on loan to Junior ‘A’, Junior ‘B’ and Midget AAA clubs up until Dec. 20 -- when they’ll report to their respective WHL camps for the start of the season Jan. 8 -- players from all over the major junior loop have opted to gain some valuable ice time in preparation for what promises to be a compact campaign.

Leading the way is Warriors assistant captain Daemon Hunt, who played his first two games with the Virden Oil Capitals of the MJHL on Friday and Saturday.

Hunt scored on his first shift with Virden and finished with a goal and an assist in a 5-3 win over Winkler on Oct. 30 and followed with two goals a night later, including the game winner, in a 3-2 victory over the Flyers.

Hunt was named the MJHL Interior Division Star of the Week for his efforts. He’ll play two more games with the Oil Caps before heading to Red Deer for the National Junior Team selection camp beginning Nov. 15.

Warriors forward Calder Anderson also played his first two games in the MJHL with the Neepawa Natives over the weekend, but was held without a point in 5-1 and 3-1 losses to the league-powerhouse Portage Terriers. He had two shots in the Halloween-night loss.

Anderson and the Natives are back on the ice Nov. 7 against the Dauphin Kings.

Up north, Warriors forward Eric Alarie is suiting up with the Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) Blizzard in The Pas, Man. Alarie played his first game on Nov. 1 in a 7-4 win over Dauphin and had an assist in the contest. He’s alongside a couple of familiar faces from the WHL -- Prince Albert Raiders overager Justin Nachbaur had two goals in that same game, while fellow Raiders forward Evan Herman had an assist.

OCN is scheduled to face Virden on Thursday, but the MJHL announced Tuesday that the Blizzard games for the week have been postponed due to a public health concern.

Warriors overager Brad Ginnell had a unique opportunity over the weekend as he and cousin Riley Ginnell of the Brandon Wheat Kings suited up for the Flin Flon Bombers against the La Ronge Ice Wolves. The duo are grandsons of Flin Flon player and coaching legend Patty Ginnell, who was one of the team leaders in their 1957 Memorial Cup win and coached the Bobby Clarke-led Bombers to the 1968-69 WCHL championship.

Brad scored a goal in Flin Flon’s 6-2 win, while Riley had two assists. Vancouver Giants forward Justin Lies is also playing in his hometown and had an assist.

Moose Jaw Minor Hockey product and Portland Winterhawks standout Reece Newkirk is also in action in the SJHL, playing for the Melville Millionaires. He drew an assist in his first game, a  6-3 pre-season loss to Yorkton that was more famous for another WHLer’s showing -- Medicine Hat Tigers overage Brett Kemp scored four times and had six points for the Terriers in that outing. Newkirk also played in the Millionaires’ 6-0 loss a night later.

The SJHL also saw a local minor hockey standout get off to a good start in the exhibition campaign, as Caelan Fitzpatrick finished the pre-season with five assists for the Estevan Bruins and ended up seventh in SJHL scoring. Former Moose Jaw Generals standout and current Prince Albert Raiders overager Cole Fonstad is also in the Bruins line-up.