Grady Hoffman and Ryder Knutson scored twice, while Liam Fitzpatrick added another to help the U18 AAA Warriors take down their TransCanada rivals the Regina Pat Canadians 5-3 on Tuesday night.

The win moves Moose Jaw to 2-0 in the preseason with two road games on Friday and Sunday to finish off the exhibition games.

Weyburn product Ryan Hicks made his first appearance in a Warriors uniform in the crease and stopped 32 shots in the win.

Tuesday’s affair was the first time these two teams met since Regina swept the Warriors in the first round of last year’s playoffs. You could say there was some unfinished business between these two clubs.

The Pat Canadians got the scoring started just 14 seconds into the game. After a faceoff win, Regina’s Noel Englot flew down the left wing and found teammate Cruz Klapak alone in front of the net and he made no mistake out waiting goalie Ryan Hicks and tucked it home.

It was a seesaw battle between the two clubs following the games first goal, with the Pat Canadians controlling the tempo of the game, with Hicks standing tall in the goal crease.

After three straight penalty kills by Moose Jaw, they finally get a powerplay of their own and capitalized on it.

Liam Fitzpatrick would drive down the right side and rifle it home, sneaking it under the pad of the goalie and burying it for his first of the pre-season. Max Threinen and Ryan Hicks would pick up assists on the play.

Moose Jaw would take the lead late in the first period after a Ryder Knutson shot from the slot goes over the glove of Taylor Tabashniuk and finds twine for the Warrior’s second powerplay goal of the game. Lipton’s Connor Miller added an assist on the goal.

The score would be 2-1 after 20 minutes with Regina leading in shots 16-11.

The Pat Canadians would respond quickly into the second period after Noah Asmundson beats Hicks to tie the game at 2-2.

Hoffman would get his night going early in the second period scoring two goals 4:31 a part to extend the Warrior’s lead to 4-2 with still lots of time left in the second period.

“I was eager to get that first one [goal] of the pre-season, it’s kind of a relief to get it here in the second game against our rivals for the past season,” says Hoffman following Tuesday’s win.

Regina wouldn’t quit as they capitalized on one of their 12 powerplays on the night after Rhett Platt beat Hicks to cut the lead to 4-3.

Swift Current’s Knutson would make Regina pay on the powerplay notching his second of the game and the team’s third goal with the extra man making it 5-3 with 3:55 left in the period.

Moose Jaw would edge Regina in shots in the second period 11-9.

The third period was filled with many penalties, and shots, but no goals leaving the Warriors with a 5-3 over Regina.

The Warriors would finish the night 3-10 on the powerplay, while only holding the Pat Canadians to 1-11. The final shot count was 37-35 in favour of Moose Jaw. 

These two teams will meet again on Friday night in Regina at 6:30 p.m. at the Brandt Centre. Moose Jaw will finish off their pre-season against the Swift Current Legionnaires on Sunday in Gull Lake at 5:00 p.m.

Moose Jaw will open the Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL) season on Sept. 23 against the Battleford Northstars.