Spenser Jensen could make his Warriors debut on Friday when they host the Red Deer Rebels.

A new opportunity and the possibility of having a bigger role.

 

Spenser Jensen left the Medicine Hat Tigers in mid-December.  He felt things weren’t going the way that he’d hoped in his third season in the Western Hockey League.

 

“Things didn’t maybe go the way that I had hoped in Medicine Hat, but I’m really excited to be here in Moose Jaw for a bit of a fresh start,” said Jensen after joining the Warriors on Saturday in Calgary, one day after the trade that sent him to his new team.

 

The tribe is still a younger team and it could be the place for Jensen to find the playing time he’s hoping for and the room to continue to grow as a player in his third season.

 

“It’s a great place to be, there’s a lot of younger players here and a bit of a rebuild season, but I think it’s exciting to be a part of,” said Jensen, who stands in at 6-foot-4 and 192 lbs.

 

After the trade, Warriors general manager Alan Millar said he envisioned Jensen working well with the many young and mobile defencemen that they already have on the roster, like Reid Zalitach and Alexey Sleptsov.

 

Jensen brings something to the tribe that the team has been searching for, a steady stay-at-home defenceman with some sizes.  He’s hoping to bring that strong play to Moose Jaw.

 

“I’m pretty defensive player, I don’t usually help put too much offensively,” said Jensen.  “I’m pretty solid in my own end, I play physical and that’s pretty much my game.”

 

The native of Airdrie, Alberta joined the team in Calgary, but didn’t suit up on the final two games of the three-game Alberta road trip that the Warriors returned home from on Sunday.

 

He’s happy with the change of scenery and to join the Warriors’ locker room, one that he’s already familiar with some players in.

 

“I remember playing Moose Jaw in the playoffs a couple of years ago with Medicine Hat and the fans were pretty crazy and it seems like a fun place to play,” said Jensen.  “I already know a couple of guys, so that makes the transition a little easier.

 

“I played minor hockey together with Torrin (White) for a couple years, so that does help out with the transition.  Of course meeting new guys, a lot of hockey guys are similar, so it’s not too hard.”

 

The biggest adjustment for Jensen will be getting back on the ice after almost a month away from the game waiting for a trade.

 

“I haven’t been skating too much on the break here, I didn’t have anyone to skate with, so I skated with the Junior B team in Airdrie, but that was it,” he said.  “I will probably take a little bit for me to get my feet back under me again, but I’m looking forward to it.”

 

Jensen will get a week to practice with the Warriors as they won’t see game action again until Friday night when they host the Red Deer Rebels at Mosaic Place in one of just two home games this month.  The tribe is coming off a 4-3 win in Red Deer on Sunday to end their Alberta road trip.