With a 5-4 overtime loss to the Saskatoon Blades on Monday night, the Moose Jaw Warriors 2021 WHL season came to an end. 

And it was a season like non-other, as the east division teams were limited to the Regina bubble and only played 24 games without playoffs. 

Warriors General Manager Jason Ripplinger said not having playoffs was the right call by the league. 

“I think right now guys are starting to wear out. It's a lot of games. We basically put a quarter or season into 48 days,” Ripplinger said.  

“So, I think the players and coaches and trainers and everybody starting to wear out here a little bit. So, I think having a playoffs, I don't think that would have been the right thing to do.” 

Ripplinger added that there were many bright spots as young players like Denton Mateychuk, Jagger Firkus, Brayden Yager, Max Wanner, Lucas Brenton and Brett Mirwald. 

The Warriors ended the season with a record of 8-13-3, which Ripplinger felt was an improvement from the 14-44-4 record they had last year. 

“If it was over a 68-game scheduled, we've almost doubled our wins for last year,” he said. 

Eric Alarie led the team with 20 points, including 10 games, in 19 games played. 

Ripplinger outlined what is next for the hockey club. 

“Once the bubble here is done, we're going to take a week off and we're going to get together as a staff and start preparing for training camp, how we're going to dive into this,” he said.  

“Next year, we're not sure how many players are going to be allowed to come to camp.” 

He added that there were a number of 16 and 17-year-old players that the Warriors have listed that didn’t get a chance to play that they’ll need to make a decision on soon for next season.