It took until Jan. 12 for the Moose Jaw Warriors to have their entire lineup at their disposal.

The local WHL team was plagued by injuries throughout the first half with key pieces like captain Brett Howden, as well as defencemen Josh Brook and Jett Woo, missing significant time. Despite that, the Warriors sit ten points clear of every other team in the Western Hockey League, which is an impressive feat.

With the full lineup now available, the Warriors can start setting their lines and defensive pairings, as well as building more chemistry, for the stretch run towards the playoffs.

The top-six has been essentially set throughout the season, but with the full lineup, the Warriors’ third and fourth lines are starting to take shape.

The third line could become very important down the stretch with 19-year-olds Vince Loschiavo and Tristin Langan, along with 17-year-old Tate Popple, providing scoring depth behind Howden, Brayden Burke, Jayden Halbgewachs, Tanner Jeannot Justin Almeida and Ryan Peckford.

“Whatever role they ask me to play, I’m willing to do, so right now I’m just trying to improve everyday in practice and translate that into games,” said Loschiavo, who was acquired from Kootenay just over a month ago with the purpose of adding a more experienced scorer to the Warriors’ bottom-six.

While with the Ice, Loschiavo was in a primary role after posting 29 goals last season. He’s now joined a loaded forward group, which means less ice time, but Loschiavo isn’t worried about that.

Rookie forward Tate Popple fires the puck on net during the Warriors meeting with the Calgary Hitmen at Mosaic Place last week. (Photo: Marc Smith)

“Sometimes when I’m not playing as much, I want to do whatever I can to help the team and if that’s not producing offence, I just want to work hard and be an energy guy, so that’s good too,” Loschiavo said.

“We just want to be an energetic line for our team and bring some positive energy.”

In 14 games since joining the Warriors, Loschiavo has six goals and nine points. Put that with Langan, who’s been on fire since the Christmas break with eight goals and 15 points in 11 games, and Popple, who has five goals and 16 points in his rookie campaign, and you have a good combination of scoring and grit.

“Langan and Loschiavo are both really good players to play with, so I just want to keep doing my part and things are going to go well,” said Popple.

All three are responsible at both ends of the ice as well.

“Both those guys are good skaters, so it’s easy to play with them and playing that 200-foot game is important, so it’s good to bring that,” added Popple.

The Warriors currently sit first in the WHL with a 36-7-1-2 record and have won nine of their last ten games, making them currently one of the hottest teams as well.

Everyone is buying into what needs to be done for the team to have success.

“It’s awesome, when you’re winning and playing the right way, hockey is a lot of fun, so that’s what we want to keep doing, keep improving every day and don’t let up at all,” said Loschiavo.

The Warriors are off until Friday when they head to the Queen City to meet up with the revamped Regina Pats.