It was a successful pre-season opener for the Moose Jaw U18 AAA Warriors as they rolled to a commanding 5-2 win over the visiting Swift Current Legionnaires on Sunday night at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.  

Regina product Jake Briltz was named the first star of the game and had himself a performance picking up three points in the win.  

Head coach, Trevor Weisgerber had a lot of positive things to say following Sunday night's win.  

“I thought we played really well, obviously with it being our first game we just wanted to make sure the guys were working hard and within our systems and pushing the pace and I thought we did a pretty good job with that,” says Weisgerber.  

The line of Briltz, Liam Fitzpatrick, and Connor Miller combined for eight points, which is a good sign for the Warriors this season. 

“They gelled pretty well, they moved the puck quick, they found holes, and they all skated well. They should be able to create offence most nights and we will definitely lean on them to do that,” adds Weisgerber. “It’s good they have that chemistry right off the bat.” 

Connor Miller added two goals of his own, while Moose Jaw boy Liam Fitzpatrick picked up three assists.  

“I feel like coming into this year we had a lot of chemistry, we played a little bit together last year and we just kept the ball rolling,” notes Fitzpatrick. 

The Warriors came out flying in the first period peppering Swift Current’s starter Berney Weston early and often. Connor Miller got the offense started for Moose Jaw with 6:28 left in the first period with Fitzpatrick and Briltz picking up assists on the goal.  

The Legionnaires would get some life but Warriors netminder Ryan Bain would shut the door keeping it scoreless after the first period. The shots favoured Moose Jaw 10-6.  

Moose Jaw would burst the game wide open in the second period adding three in the frame.  

Miller would pick up his second of the game only 42 seconds into the period, capitalizing on the one-timer from Fitzpatrick that snuck under the glove of Weston. Caleb Potter picked up the secondary assist.  

Roughly seven minutes later the Warriors would strike once again, as Briltz would be sprung on a shorthanded breakaway and went to his backhand and put it home for his second point of the night.  

With 4:47 left in the second period, Briltz would add his second goal of the game, but this time on the powerplay. Briltz would take the feed from Potter and wouldn’t miss making it 4-0 Moose Jaw. Fitzpatrick would add an assist on the goal. 

Moose Jaw dominated Swift Current outshooting them 15-3 in the period.  

The third period started how the second period ended, as Dylan Duzan would notch his first of the pre-season to extend the Warrior's lead to 5-0.  

Swift Current would end Bain’s shutout streak and get on the board in the third period. On the powerplay, Brendan Quinn-Lagria would take a shot from the point and Will Kirwan would deflect it between the legs of Bain, making it 5-1.  

Just over two minutes later, the Legionnaires added a quick one, after Jett Lamb streaked down the left wing and riffled one past the glove of Bain to make it 5-2.  

That’s as close as they got, as the Warriors would finish off the period to open the pre-season with a 5-2 win.  

Bain would stop 14 of 16 shots to pick up his first win, while Weston stopped 31 of 36 in the loss.  

Moose Jaw went 1-8 on the powerplay, while Swift Current was 1-9 with the extra man.  

The Warriors will meet the Regina Pat Canadians on Tuesday night for their second pre-season game. The team will be hard at work on Monday and Tuesday to prepare for Regina.  

“I think a lot of it will be in our own zone just moving pucks a little quicker, getting guys in a little better position, our defense has to talk more. We’ll touch on our special teams on Tuesday and some faceoffs. It was good to get our first game under our belts!” explains Weisgerber.  

Puck drop for Tuesday’s game will be at 7:00 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.