The Warriors run through some drills at Mosaic Place on Wednesday afternoon.

The Moose Jaw Warriors returned to the Friendly City on Wednesday and were back on the ice at Mosaic Place in the afternoon for practice as they start getting ready for the second half of the WHL season.

The tribe went into the holiday break with a 12-17-3-4 record during their first 36 games and as the record indicates it was an up and down first half for the young squad.  They went through their growing pains and will now be looking to build off them during the second half.

“We're still a young group and sometimes you think you've made a step forward and you make two steps back, that's just the way it is,” explained head coach Mike Stothers.  “Experienced, in-experienced, which ever way you want to look at it.  Guys playing more minutes than maybe they're ready for, that's how you learn, we're going to learn on the fly.”

Competing every shift, every night will be the big key for the tribe as they look to climb into a playoff spot during the second half.  There were many bright spots during the first half, but also many times when those bright spots were followed with low moments.

“We just need to have consistent games every day.  That was for sure our downfall during the first half,” said assistant captain Jordan Wyton.  “We could play with the best teams in the league and beat them, and then struggle with some of the lower class teams in the league, so for sure consistency will be a big key in the second half of the year.

Wyton is working his way back from an upper body injury that cost him the last 14 games before the break.  He was out of the yellow “non-contact” jersey at practice on Wednesday and is expected to be a game-time decision for Thursday's game in Regina.

The Warriors are right in the thick of the playoff hunt heading into the second half despite their hot and cold start to the year.  They're one point out of a playoff spot and 25 of their final 36 games will be within the division, so they essentially control their own destiny when it comes to the division.

“Our focus is, as always, we expect to win.  That should be our theme and motto.  We expect to win and we don't settle for anything less,” Stothers stated.  “We've got a dog fight standings-wise with a lot of teams, a lot of potential, and we can control our own destiny.”

The second half starts with a Trans-Canada Clash against the Pats in the Queen City and Wyton says that's a great way to get back into the swing of things, “It's always great to play against the Pats, we haven't played them much this year, so it will be good to get out there against them, our arch rivals.”

The schedule is a bit different than many on the tribe will be use to for after the Christmas break as this is usually when the team heads out to the BC, or US, Division for their annual road trip, but with that's already behind them.  This year the team kicks things off with three division games in three nights, they're in Regina on Thursday, Brandon on Friday and then back at home against the Pats on Saturday.  “It's something different for sure, I've never had this before, so it's going to be different, but it's going to be a good test for us,” added Wyton.

Warriors Call-Up Five Players

It looked more like a training camp practice on Wednesday afternoon when the Warriors hit the ice at Mosaic Place.  The team has four players off at international tournaments, so five fresh faces were called up to help with work load over the next week.

15-year-olds Jayden Halbgewachs, Zach Sawchenko and Ethan Williams, along with 16-year-old Royce Rossignol and 17-year-old Darcy DeRoose all got the call from the WHL club over the holidays.

“They're in for a little look and to see what's going on,” explained Stothers.  “First and foremost we'll get them on the ice and practice with us when they can.  With (Morgan Rielly) being gone and Miles (Warkentine), Josh (Uhrich) and (Brayden Point), that opens up some opportunity.  

“I don't know quite exactly how things are going to pan out for these guys.  I'd like to be able to say that I could get them all in a game, but that's going to be determined with how we go.”

Four of the five players were on the ice for practice with the team on Wednesday as Rossignol was flying in from BC on Wednesday night and joined the team then.

“We did this last year, where we had some guys come in and I think it's just a good experience for them,” explained Stothers.

“Just the fact that they're here, in our environment, experiencing what we're all about, what we do as far as preparation for practice and games, what we do as far as dryland and video.  I think it's beneficial to them and when they go back to their clubs, maybe they'll take something away that will make them a little better and a little bit sooner next year.”

2012 second round WHL bantam pick Zach Sawchenko, who's been playing goalie with the Midget AAA Notre Dame Argos so far this season, says he's looking forward to

Sawchenko makes a save with the Argosthe entire experience of being in the WHL, “It's pretty special, there's a lot of good shooters out here and it's just making me better as a goalie and person, just learning from the vets.”

There's two rookie goalies in front of Sawchenko with the Warriors in Justin Paulic and Daniel Wapple, but the 15-year-old netminder says he's trying to watch how they work in practice as much as possible, “They're at the next level and that's where I want to be, so I'm just taking any tips I can and modelling my game after them.”

Sawchenko has went 3-9-1 so far this season with the Argos, posting a 3.92 goals against average and a .888 save percentage on 455 shots in 16 games.  He says he's going to try take as much away from his time with the team to help him improve, “Just knowing what I have to do to be here next year and just putting the tools together and doing it.”

Some of the new players are expected to be in the lineup when the team takes on the Regina Pats on Thursday night at the Brandt Centre.  You can tune into all the action on Country 100 with Voice of the Warriors James Gallo and Marc Smith.  Everything gets underway with the Pre-Game Show at 6:40pm.