The Warriors practiced throughout the weekend at Mosaic Place.

The Moose Jaw Warriors won't be short on veteran defencemen this season as that is no doubt the strong spot on the team heading into the 2012-13 WHL season.

Newly acquired defenceman Reid Jackson is looking forward to getting a chance to help the team.

The Weyburn native says he was happy to find out he was traded to Moose Jaw from Prince George during the offseason, "Obviously I was very excited to get to come somewhere so close to home.  I grew up watching the Warriors, being only an hour away, so they were always my favourite team growing up."

Jackson, a 19-year-old defenceman, was acquired from the Cougars on Bantam draft day in a deal that saw another veteran defenceman, Dallas Ehrhardt, shipped out of town.  Jackson has played three seasons in the WHL now and his veteran presence will be big for the tribe heading into the season.

"We've got such a good core group of young guys, so they just need to keep their ears open and listen to what the older guys have to say because we've been in the league, we've got some things for them to learn.

"I've already been kind of a leader on this team," explained Jackson.  "As soon as I walked into the room, they accepted me and I'm a very out-going guy and I think they realized that, so it's been an easy adjustment, and I love coming to the rink everyday."

Jackson finished with three goals and 13 points in 55 games, split between Prince George and Lethbridge, last season.  He feels he can bring more to the table this year in Moose Jaw, "Obviously last year I didn't put up the numbers I would have liked, but I can drop the gloves, I can do whatever the team needs me to.  I can put up points, I can play on the power play, or the penalty kill, and I can shut down team's first lines."

The tribe hasn't seen game action since last Tuesday's rookie game against Swift Current, meaning the veterans, like Jackson, are itching to get on the ice, "If I can get into a game, or maybe two, this weekend, that would be great.  I'd like to get into the feel of things, training camp is a bit slower than preseason, so it would be good to get into one before the regular season."

Jackson and the Warriors will continue to practice this week at Mosaic Place as they get set to face Swift Current coming up on Friday in Maple Creek.  The next home action for the tribe is on Sunday when the Broncos come to town.

A reminder to Warrior fans that season tickets will be ready for pick up on Wednesday at the Warriors office.  They'll be open at 9:00am for fans to grab their tickets and then for the remainder of the week during business hours.  The office will also be open this weekend, on Saturday, from 9:00am to 5:00pm, and then again on Sunday, from 9:00am to 3:00pm.