Despite a pair of weekend losses, there’s a foundation to build on for the U15 AA Warriors.

Warriors may have been down in Sunday's game against the Regina Aces, but they made a game of it late with some third period firepower in their 9-7 loss.

Missing a couple of skaters, Sunday’s game at the Bert Hunt Arena was relatively close despite the home team allowing six goals in the second.

“We came out strong here in the first part of the game, slacked off in the second and it showed in the scoreboard,” said Warriors head coach Todd Cole. “And then we kind of came back a little bit in the third. But we didn’t quit, and that’s the big thing. Lots to build on.”

Sunday, the Warriors jumped out to a 3-1 lead after the first period. The Aces came alive in the second, pouring in four goals in an eight-minute span before the Warriors responded. After a flurry of even more goals, on both sides, the Warriors were within one in the middle of the third, but the Aces scored twice in seven seconds to give the Warriors too high of a hill to climb.

Bryson Aikens scored two goals and four assists, while Bryce Boughen scored two with an assist and Marc Belanger scored twice as well. Cashton Seaborg scored the other Warriors’ goal.

Casson Silbernagle stopped 41 of 50 shots in the loss.

It was a much different story Saturday as the Warriors lost 10-1 in Regina, and Cole said his team was better prepared for Sunday’s game.

“(Saturday), we got caught on our heels and weren’t ready for it,” Cole said. “They’re a good team and we need to understand that we need to play 60 minutes of hockey. We got caught (Saturday) on the heels and they put in six quick on us in the first period, and we couldn’t really recover.”

Belanger’s second period goal was the only one for Moose Jaw Saturday. Silbernagle stopped 52 of 62 shots in the game.

The Warriors' next games are scheduled for this weekend against the Pat Blues. Sunday's game is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. at the Red Knight Arena.