The Moose Jaw Warriors spent a dozen days on the road making a statement.
The Warriors picked up 13 out of a possible 14 points during their seven-game road swing to the west coast and back. That run constitutes the best west coast trip in franchise history. The only blemish on the Warriors journey was a 2-1 overtime loss to the B.C. Division-leading Vancouver Giants.
Impressive as it was, the Warriors run on the coast shouldn't have been a shock. They've been exceptional away from home all season and their 18-3-2-0 road record is second only to the juggernaut Prince Albert Raiders in the Western Hockey League.
The Warriors concluded the trip with a 3-1 win over the Medicine Hat Tigers Saturday. Justin Almeida had two goals and an assist in the win, while Brayden Tracey had a goal and an assist. Baxter Anderson replied for the Tigers. Brodan Salmond made 26 saves in goal for Moose Jaw.
Friday, the Warriors beat the Edmonton Oil Kings 5-2 as Almeida and Tristin Langan each had a goal and an assist. Langan now has 38 goals and 79 points on the year. He is second in the league in both categories behind Portland's Joachim Blichfeld.
Tracey scored the game-winning goal as the Warriors scored three straight in the second period to erase a 1-0 deficit. Luke Ormsby and Daniil Stepanov also scored for Moose Jaw. Josh Williams and Conner McDonald scored for the Oil Kings.
Adam Evanoff made 27 saves in the win.
Tuesday the Warriors came back from a 2-0 deficit to beat the the Prince George Cougars 3-2 in overtime.
Almeida, a former Cougar, scored 30 seconds into overtime to complete the comeback. Almeida had 11 goals in 35 games heading into the trip, but was red hot on the West Coast scoring seven goals in the seven games.
Jett Woo scored his 10th goal of the season to extend his point steak to four games. Langan also scored and Josh Brook had a pair of assists.
Ilijah Colina and Vladislav Mikhalchuk staked the Cougars to the lead. Evanoff made 23 saves.
The trip was even more impressive given that they were without defenceman Daemon Hunt for the duration. Hunt is still listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury. Veteran forward Tate Popple also remains out of the lineup after picking up a lower-body injury on New Year's Eve.
The Warriors (27-11-6-2) return to Mosaic Place Friday when they will host Medicine Hat.
