Warriors Lose Home Opener
Mosaic Place was sold out and fans were looking to get rich off of a record-setting 50/50 ticket at the Moose Jaw Warriors home opener versus the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings.
The Wheat Kings beat the tribe 2-1 in Brandon the night before and were hoping to make it two straight. Moose Jaw had different plans.
This was a game in which Moose Jaw announced it’s new captain to be Josh Brook. The two alternate captains would be Tristin Langan and Justin Almeida.
Brandon got to the scoring almost immediately when Linden McCorrister beat Adam Evanoff. Conor Gutenberg got the assist on the play.
A second goal from Brandon came in the 7th minute on a fast break: former Warrior gunner Luka Burzan, who was involved in last season’s acquisition of now-NHLer Kale Clague, sent the puck to Stelio Mattheos who netted his second in two nights.
The rest of the first period was pretty even, Moose Jaw had some opportunities but failed to capitalize.
The woes continued into the second period when Ridly Greig scored to put his team up 3-0. That was the first goal of Greig’s WHL Career; Lynden McCallum got an assist on the play, the first of his career as well. That was how the second period would end. Brandon had out-shot Moose Jaw 22-16.
At the start of period 3 the 50/50 ticket sales had surpassed $278,000 and fans were ecstatic when the Warriors entered the ice.
The excitement paid off because at the 2:42 mark , the new captain, Josh Brook, put the Warriors on the board. Taking advantage of a Schael Higson holding penalty. Assists on the play came from Almeida and Ryan Peckford. There was new life in Mosaic Place, but Brandon still led 3-1. Brook had 3 goals and 29 assists and a +48 in the 2017 season. He signed a contract with the Montreal Canadians on Friday.
New team Captain Josh Brook was sharp in the game, scoring twice.
Picture: Codie McLachlan/Getty Images
The captain did it again halfway through the period, scoring a second goal. This one assisted by his two alternate captains, Almeida and Langan. It was a game now; 3-2 Brandon with Moose Jaw playing hungry.
The Warriors pulled their goalie late, hoping to capitalize with an extra man on the ice, but Luke Burzan teamed up with Stelio Mattheos to make it 4-2. Schael Higson also got an assist on the goal. That’s his fourth point of the season. He already looks to be one of the more impressive defenders in the league.
That’s how the game would finish. Warriors drop to 0-2 to start the season.
For more on the total Jackpot read the following: 50/50 Clears $380K at Home Opener
