Salmond Spectacular in Warriors Debut

Nick Murray

Brodan Salmon got his first start between the pipes for your Moose Jaw Warriors on Sunday afternoon, at the Brandt Centre against the Regina Pats, and it couldn't have been more timely.

You see...its been a rocky start for the tribe. Three consecutive losses to begin the season and dead last in an East division that looks like its gonna be the strongest division in the league...again. Thankfully, the Pats didn't seem to be doing any better. Coming into the game both clubs were 0-3.

Brodan Salmond

Salmond is a veteran backup who spent the last three seasons with the Kelowna Rockets. He played in 26 games last season and had a Goals Against Average of 3.67.

He was almost unbeatable on Sunday afternoon. Almost, but not quite. Either way, don't be shocked if you see him starting again pretty soon because he was pretty impressive. That's not to say that regular starter Adam Evanoff has played poorly, in fact, Evanoff has been pretty solid between the pipes so far, just not quite as solid as Salmond was against Regina.

Cale Fleury, the Pats offensive stud, didn't suit up and either did Warriors NHL-bound defender Jett Woo.

The game began with the ferocious Warriors playing hard, hoping desperately to snap this early skid, similar to how they started the game the night before against Prince Albert before they blew it in the third.

The top line did their thing, scoring twice in the first. Both goals by Tristin Langan. The first was assisted by Justin Almeida and Brayden Tracey and the second by Josh Brook and Ryan Peckford.

Langan leveled Almeida up to lead the club in points with six.

Then, for the rest of the game, both teams relied heavily on their goaltenders. Both Salmond and Pats keeper Max Paddock were spectacular, making 31 saves each on the night.

The Pats managed to squeak one behind Salmond, but it didn't come easy. Koby Morriseau netted his first of the season at 5:59 in the second. And that's how the score was at the end of two.

The Warriors were sure thankful to have big D-Man Brandon Schuldhaus back from his suspension, because he definitely came in handy down the stretch, fighting off Pats as they launched shot after shot in the direction of his team's net.

It looked, at times, as if Moose Jaw was about to squander the lead, but time after time Salmond made the saves necessary to hold on to the victory.

Moose Jaw took the game; 2-1.

Moose Jaw is now off until Friday, when they will meet the undefeated Brandon Wheat Kings at Mosaic Place