Last season's Moose Jaw Warriors featured a core group that had played together for four years and helped the team to the best record in franchise history. The Warriors are hoping that they've found another core similar to that.

This year's Warriors team features 11 rookies, who headed into the holiday break as the highest scoring group of rookies with 71 total points through 30 games.

"We have lots of fun, we're the tightest group I've ever seen," said 17-year-old forward Brayden Tracey. "I've talked to a lot of guys around the league, other rookies, and it doesn't seem as close as us, we have a special group of young guys here."

The strong play from the Warriors' rookies has been a big part of the team's success through the first half as they went into the break sitting firmly in a playoff spot.

There's been an adjustment period, but the young players have caught on quickly to how the Warriors want to play.

"It's a good time to be a rookie with the Moose Jaw Warriors, there's opportunity, we have spots and every night you're playing for an opportunity and you're playing for more ice time," said Warriors associate coach Mark O’Leary.

"They're investing in their own development as well, they want to get better, they want to see extra video, they want to get stronger in the gym and they want to be on the ice and learning… it's exciting for the future for the Warriors."

Warriors 16-year-old defenceman Daemon Hunt. (Photo: Marc Smith)

Tracey has been leading the way among that rookie group as he's currently pacing all rookies in the WHL, leading the pack with 30 points in 30 games. His ten goals are also second in the league among first-year players.

The Calgary product is proud of the first half that he's put together but also knows that there's still a long road ahead.

"I'm happy, I've got good linemates and I'm grateful for it. I had a good stretch where I found the back of the net or found people to put it in the back of the net and it's been a great first half," said Tracey.

"I still need to work on my mentality of not giving up, but other than that I'm doing pretty good."

The next highest scoring rookie on the team is the only 16-year-old on this year’s squad as defenceman Daemon Hunt has also put together a strong start to his WHL career. Hunt has three goals and 12 points in 27 games and he's played some big minutes in the Warriors' top-four with Josh Brook, Jett Woo and Dalton Hamaliuk.

"It hasn't been, the Western League is a tough league, but I felt, personally, that I've handled it pretty well with the busy schedule every day. It's been tough at times, but I've found mentally and physically my way to get through everything," said Hunt.

The 2017 first round pick added he's really enjoyed being a part of this group of rookies, "We've created a big connection between all of us," said Hunt.

"We're capable of doing what some people think we couldn't… we have a 38-game schedule coming up in the second half and we're all really confident that we'll continue to grow."

The Warriors are back from the break next Thursday when they face-off with the Swift Current Broncos at Mosaic Place. It's the first half of a home-and-home between the two East Division rivals.