Brayden Yager scored a hat trick, two players scored their first Western Hockey League goals and the Moose Jaw Warriors went on to a 7-1 victory over the Saskatoon Blades in their 2020-21 home opener at Mosaic Place on Friday night.
The game was the first WHL regular season contest played in Moose Jaw in a year and a half, and assistant coach Scott King was happy with what he saw from the team in a much different situation than usual.
“I thought we did a pretty good job,” King said while speaking with James Gallo and Derek Kletzel on the Ultimate Fan Zone post-game show. “I thought we looked a little tentative at the start, obviously we’ve got a lot of guys here who haven’t played in front of fans here and opening night and stuff going on before the game.
“But I liked the way we battled hard all night, and Saskatoon, no question they had some good looks and they have a lot of skill in their line-up and there’s a to clean up for tomorrow, but when you can get a win like that you’re going to take it.”
Yager’s hat trick came in all styles. He scored the Warriors’ first goal of the season 1:32 into the game off a turnover by Saskatoon goaltender Nolan Maier, blasted a one-time howitzer top shelf on the power play 3:43 into the third and finished a nifty two-on-one with Jagger Firkus two minutes later.
“He’s a goalscorer, there’s no question he likes to score and you can tell by the celebrations after,” KIng said with a smile. “It’s good for him to have a start like that, he’s a guy whose potential is through the roof and he can have a real nice start to the year, so we’re happy for him.”
The two teams were tied 1-1 after the first when captain Daemon Hunt scored shorthanded 30 seconds into the second frame and Robert Baco scored his first WHL goal on a breakaway with seven minutes left in the period to put the Warriors up 3-1.
Moose Jaw MInor Hockey product Atley Calvert capped off a string of outstanding scoring chances with 1:56 left in the period, tipping a shot from the point past Maier to put the Warriors ahead by three goals heading into the final period.
There, Yager finished his hat trick before Riley Niven scored the first of his WHL career, beating Ethan Chadwick on a breakaway with 5:47 remaining in the game.
The Warriors rolled four lines throughout the contest and saw dangerous looks from each at different points, something King feels will be a key going forward.
“It’s a huge advantage for us, we feel comfortable with all four lines and the six D that we have,” he said. “it’s a good feeling to know that if something isn’t going you can lean on the other three lines, but that’s the goal, roll four lines and make sure every gets in the mix… that’s how we’re going to be a dangerous team and it’s nice to get everyone involved.
Max Wanner -- who like Calvert is a graduate of Prairie Hockey Academy -- had a pair of assists, as did Firkus and Ryder Korczak.
Overage goaltender Carl Tetachuk played his first game in a Warriors uniform and turned aside 32 shots.
The two teams are right back at it tonight when the Warriors make the return trip north to face the Blades. Game time is 7 p.m.
