The Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League pre-season was most certainly a positive one for the Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors.
Now it’s time for the games to played for real.
The Warriors capped off their exhibition schedule with a 4-3 overtime win over the Swift Current Legionnaires on Sunday, Sept. 18 in Gull Lake, posting a 3-1 record through their four pre-season games and setting a positive note heading into the 2022-23 campaign.
The two teams found themselves in a stalemate in the early going, as despite outshooting Swift Current 10-3 in the opening 20 minutes, the two teams went into the dressing room tied 1-1.
Rookie Dylan Duzan had the lone goal for Moose Jaw in the first, Eric Hoiness responded for the Legionnaires.
It was all Warriors in the second period, though, as Jake Britlz broke the tie 3:14 into the frame and was followed by Liam Fitzpatrick with Moose Jaw’s third goal with 28 seconds remaining.
A power play goal from the Legionnaires’ Kade Stringer 1:21 into the third got Swift Current back within one, and Mason Osinski tied things up with 10:34 to play in the period.
That set the stage for Fitzpatrick early in overtime, as he’d score the game-winning goal only 23 seconds into the extra frame.
Ryan Hicks picked up the win in goal for Moose Jaw, turning aside 19 shots, while Jacob Morris had 23 saves for Swift Current.
It was a stellar pre-season for Briltz and Fitzpatrick, as they both finished with three goals and six points to tie for the pre-season scoring lead with Stringer.
Connor Miller also had a solid showing, putting up two goals and five points.
The Winmar Warriors open the 2022-23 regular season on Friday night when they host the Battlefords Stars, with puck drop at 7 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre. They rematch the Stars on Saturday afternoon, with game time 12 p.m.
