Brody Willms in goal for the Warriors during their rookie game against the Swift Current Broncos in August.

Brody Willms is getting his first taste of WHL life with the Moose Jaw Warriors.

With Zach Sawchenko off to the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, the door was opened to give another young goalie in the Warriors' system a chance to see what playing at the major junior level is like.  

Willms, a 2013 eighth round WHL Bantam Draft pick, turned heads during training camp with the Warriors.  He signed with the team following the camp and now has his sights set on a spot on the WHL roster in the future.

“I've always wanted to play in the WHL, so when they offered me to sign here, and just being around this team at the camp, I knew I wanted to sign,” said the 15-year-old from Coquitlam, BC.

Getting his first look at the WHL during rookie and training camp this past fall, Willms went back home knowing what he needed to work on to get to this level.

“I've gotten bigger and a lot faster on the ice and just better positioning,” he said.

That's led to an outstanding first half with the Okanagan Hockey Academy Midget Prep Under-18 AAA team.  In 14 games before coming to Moose Jaw, Willms posted a 13-1 record with a 1.86 goals against average.

“I knew if I wanted to play in this league that I needed to add some size, so I was working on that over the summer,” said Willms.  “After rookie camp here, I went back to the Okanagan Hockey Academy and did weight training there, trying to put on some weight and get bigger.”

Now he's getting the chance to test out his growth at the WHL level in practice since December 26th.

Justin Paulic has started three straight games since the team returned from the Christmas break with Willms serving as the backup.  Even without getting into the games, Willms says he's learning what it takes to play in the WHL.

“I think it's really important, just to know what it's going to be like if I ever make the team,” said Willms.  “The shots out here are a lot better placed and harder, so that's something to get use to and obviously the whole speed of the game is a lot faster.”

Paulic, 18, is in the middle of his second season between the pipes for the Warriors and has been tutoring Sawchenko throughout the first half.  Willms added that Paulic is helping him along as well.

“Justin is a great guy to be around and everything he does is just class act,” said Willms.

There was no indication of Willms getting into the Warriors' three games coming up on the weekend as they head to Edmonton, Calgary and Red Deer.  After the weekend, Willms will return to the Okanagan Hockey Academy with Sawchenko wrapping up at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge on Saturday.