Scott Cooke in action with the Moose Jaw Warriors during preseason action in Swift Current.

Unhappy with their roles on the team, Brandon Potomak and Scott Cooke decided it was best for them to leave the Moose Jaw Warriors on the weekend.

The two veteran players saw limited playing time during the Warriors’ two opening weekend games as they spent the majority of the time on the fourth line.  After the game, the two players met with General Manager Alan Millar and Head Coach Tim Hunter to voice their concerns and see what the team’s plans were for them going forward.

“We were honest with both guys that they were in tough,” said Millar.  “I give them credit for wanting some information and meeting with us, but they felt that’s not what they wanted to do as 19 and 20-year-olds, and we respect that.”

Cooke was one of four overage players on the Warriors roster and with the likes of Jack Rodewald, Tanner Eberle and Jaimen Yakubowski occupying the other three spots, he was hard pressed to crack the team’s roster if Eberle returns from Montreal Canadiens camp. 

“It’s fair, we respect the players decisions, there’s no grudges here, it was just the right time for the players to look at their opportunity, or lack of opportunity, and we were honest with them in that regard, and it’s best for them to move,” said Millar.

Cooke, who was acquired last year in a trade with Vancouver, will be exploring CIS opportunities and focusing on starting his academic future, while Potomak plans on heading back to the BCHL for this season.

Potomak is an interesting case as the team had high expectations for the speedy winger when he joined the team as a 17-year-old two seasons ago.  However, the 2010 second round pick has battled injuries throughout his WHL career, which has limited him to just 116 games, including only 30 last season.

“Brandon’s a good kid and he’s had a frustrating WHL career up to this point,” said Millar.  “I don’t think that anybody’s at fault other than he’s really fought injuries over the last couple of years.  He just didn’t take that step in his development and at the end of the day, being the 10th to 14th forward as a 19-year-old, in and out of the lineup, probably wasn’t right for him as a player.”

Potomak had a strong training camp with the Warriors, but wasn’t able to overtake some of the younger players that the team had brought in.  He would be battling against the likes of Ethan Lazaro and Tanner Jeannot for ice time throughout the season.

“Obviously guys like Lazaro, you have to be patient and a veteran guy like Potomak got the opportunity ahead of him, but moving forward Ethan is going to have to be ready to go when his jersey is hung up in the locker room on game day,” said Millar.

The loss of two veteran players could hurt the Warriors in the short term with three players still away at NHL camps, but Millar added that they’re expecting Eberle, Brayden Point and Dallas Valentine back by the weekend.

“We’ve had dialogue with all three NHL teams over the last couple of days, no guarantees, but the possibility of guys being back here by Wednesday or Thursday,” he said.

The Warriors return to game action on Friday when they host the Regina Pats at Mosaic Place.