The Moose Jaw Warriors nailed a 6-3 win against the Red Deer Rebels, showing they’re not a team to mess with defensively. Despite a quick start by the Rebels, some defensive slip-ups and faceoff blunders led to their third straight loss on a tough road trip, as noted by coach Derrick Walser. Playing their third game in four days, the Rebels are keeping it chill, looking to regroup for the next matchups.
Jeremiah Roberts scored his third goal of the season just 2:50 into the game with the assists going to Quentin Bourne and Matthew Gard.–On Saturday, the Rebels had a swift beginning, courtesy of Jeremiah Roberts redirecting a point shot from Quentin Bourne, which was knee-high, into the Warriors’ netminder Jackson Ungar at 2:50 of the initial period.
20 year old Czech Import and Columbus Blue Jackets 2021 7th rounder Martin Rysavy scored his 16th goal of the season at 13:59 of the opening period. The assist on the goal went to hometown Moose Jaw native Atley Calvert.–Martin Rysavy scored his 16th goal of the season on a two-on-one break.
Buffalo Sabres 2022 first rounder Matt Savoie gave the Warriors a 2-1 lead on the Power Play at 18:29 of the first period. Assists on the goal to Denton Mateychuk and former Victoria Royal Kalem Parker.– Matthew Savoie put the Warriors ahead at 18:24 when he gobbled up a loose puck in the crease and scored on the power play.
Shots in the first period were 17-8 for Moose Jaw
Martin Rysavy gets his second goal of the game at 10:21 of the second frame. The assists on the goal went to Kelowna, BC native Rilen Kovacivec and Brayden Schuurman.–Rysavy notched his second of the game at 10:21 when he was left all alone in front of Wutzke.
Jagger Firkus scored a short handed goal with two minutes left in the second period to give the Warriors a 4-1 lead. The assist on the goal went to 2022 Pittsburgh Penguins first rounder Brayden Yager.–League scoring leader Jagger Firgus fired his 39th goal and 86th point on a shorthanded breakaway with two minutes left in the frame.
Shots in the second period were 9-7 for the Warriors.
Kai Uchacz scores his 30th goal of the season at 6:22 of the third period while on the Power Play. The assists on the goal went Kalan Lind and Ollie Josephson.–Injecting vitality into the Rebels’ performance, Kai Uchacz notched his 11th power play goal of the season at 6:22. This marked his 31st career power play goal with the Rebels, placing him second in the all-time rankings, just behind Ben King, who boasts 44 goals in this category. Uchacz is also the first Rebel to score 30 goals in back to back seasons since Justin Mapletoft did it in back in 1999-00 and 2000-01.
Brayden Schuurman scored his 14th goal of the season to make it a 5-2 Warriors game at 7:08 of the third period unassisted.–Brayden Schuurman restored a three-goal lead for the Warriors at 7:08 when he stole the puck in the Red Deer zone and tucked it past Stoesser.
20 year old Atley Calvert scored his 30th goal of the season at 9:44 of the final frame. The assists on the goal went to Kelowna, BC native Lynden Lakovic and Matt Savoie.– Atley Calvert scored his 30th of the season on a tip-in at 9:44.
Carson Birnie scored one for the Rebels at 18:20 of the last period. The assists on the goal went to Samuel Drancak and Elias Carmichael.–Carson Birnie completed the scoring for the Rebels at 18:20 of the third period with his 10th tally of the year.
Shots on goal in the third period were 11-9 for the Rebels. The Warriors however outshot the Rebels in the game 35-26.
Jackson Unger made 23 saves on the 26 shots that he faced for the win for the Warriors. Chase Wutzke made 22 saves on the 26 shots for the Rebels in the first 2 periods of play until being replaced by Rhett Stoesser in the third. Stoesser made 7 saves on the 9 shots that he faced.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Martin Rysavy 2) Brayden Schuurman 3) Matt Savoie
Attendance in Moose Jaw was 3,340
Rebels next game is Sunday February 4th in Regina against the Pats at 4pm Saskatchewan time. I think in the winter the are on CST time then switch back to MST in the summer. Saskatchewan has it right with not following the stupid time change.
NHL Central Scouting… Jackson Unger and Pavel McKenzie have made NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Unger was ranked 18th among North American goaltenders and McKenzie was 170th in North American skaters.