After playing the first three weeks of the season with only a pair of 20-year-olds in their line-up, the Moose Jaw Warriors have filled their final overage opening.
The Warriors acquired forward Riley Ginnell from the Brandon Wheat Kings in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round pick in the Western Hockey League Prospects Draft on Tuesday, giving the local squad the maximum of three overagers on their roster.
“Adding Riley, we’re getting a top-six forward, who has size, grit and we’re expecting some secondary scoring from him,” Moose Jaw Warriors general manager Jason Ripplinger said on www.mjwarriors.ca. “He’s bringing in some good experience in the Western Hockey League.”
Ginnell broke into the WHL in the 2019-20 season with Brandon, playing 24 games and putting up three goals and four points.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound left-handed shot played 24 games with the Wheat Kings in the East Division Hub, putting up four goals and nine points. He played against a familiar face on the Warriors in the process -- older brother Brad Ginnell played his 20-year-old season with Moose Jaw that season.
The duo also had a unique opportunity to play on the same team earlier in 2020-21 season, when they suited up together for the Flin Flon Bombers in the SJHL prior to the formation of the WHL campaign in January.
Ginnell enjoyed a break-out campaign last season in Brandon, putting up 14 goals and 34 points in 62 games to go along with 65 penalty minutes.
Ginnell joined the Warriors shortly after the trade and played on a line with Jagger Firkus and Brayden Yager in practice leading up to this weekend’s contests.
Ginnell is joined by defenceman and Calgary Flames prospect Cole Jordan along with netminder and reigning WHL goaltender of the week Connor Ungar as the team’s 20-year-olds.
The Warriors return to action on Friday night when they host the Red Deer Rebels and Saturday when they host the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Both games are at 7 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
