Jack Rodewald has 13 goals and 25 points in 31 games this season for the Warriors.

After getting Thursday night to shake off the bus legs, the Moose Jaw Warriors will be looking to start off their US Division road trip on the right foot as they head into the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland.

The defending WHL Champion Winterhawks await the Warriors in the opening game of their six-game road trip to the United States on Friday night.

“We're definitely coming in as somewhat of an underdog, but it's always nice playing against a dominant team in the league,” said forward Jack Rodewald.  “They've got a bunch of skilled players on their team and all the guys are looking forward to it.”

Portland comes into the game with the best record in the US Division and sitting in second place in the Western Conference, while the Warriors are tenth in the Eastern Conference.  That being said, the two teams were in similar positions last year and the Warriors found a way to come out on top against the Winterhawks, winning 4-2 at Mosaic Place in their lone meeting of the season.

The Winterhawks boast one of the most complete teams in the league, having sent four players to the World Junior Hockey Championship on the Team Canada roster alone.  Their led by defending scoring champ Nic Petan, who has 21 goals and 70 points on the year.

Defensively, Derrick Pouliot from Weyburn has been a mainstay on the Winterhawks defence, while Mathew Dumba joined the team after the World Juniors, coming back to the WHL after starting the year in the NHL with the Minnesota Wild.  Both players were taken in the top-ten of the 2012 NHL Draft.

“Both those guys are high end defencemen, you can't take them lightly,” said Rodewald.  “You've got to take away their time and space and play them physically.”

This will be the Warriors first game since last Friday's 4-3 loss to the Red Deer Rebels at Mosaic Place and the team will be looking to get off to a good start against Portland.  Rodewald says that may start before the game even does.

“Hopefully we have a good morning skate and really get prepared for (the game),” said Rodewald.  “It will probably take a couple shifts into it, but hopefully not too long.”

The East Division hasn't fare too well so far this season during their trips into the US Division.  Regina was the lone team to post a winning record, going 3-2, while Brandon, Saskatoon and Swift Current were a combined 1-14.

Rodewald will be one of the veterans that's leaned on by the Warriors as they look to have more success than the other East Division teams that went through the US Division.

“Every team that we're playing on this road trip is dominant in this league and they have a lot of skilled players that play really well together,” Rodewald said.  “I think it's up to the older guys to show the younger guys what these teams are like and really take on control.”

It all starts on Friday night in Portland.  The Warriors and the Winterhawks hit the ice at 9:00pm Saskatchewan time.  Voice of the Warriors James Gallo will have all the action for you on Country 100, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 8:40pm.