Warriors Lose a Clunker — MJ Independent

By @MJWarriorsFun (Twitter) @moosejawwarriors_history (Instagram)

*Brayden Yager before the game - photo credit Twitter*

The Tri-City Americans were back in Moose Jaw for the first time since 2018; they brought with them a three game winning streak over which included 17 goals. The team, led offensively by guys like Jake Sloan and Ethan Ernst can be super explosive.

But your Moose Jaw Warriors, on the other hand, had won FOUR straight and Tri-City was standing in the way of a fifth.

It was a battle of hot streaks at the Hangar and those hot streaks were supplemented by a room full of fans dressed for Halloween and a soundtrack that included a lot of Halloween inspired rock music.

A costly Too Many Men on the Ice penalty led to an early goal for the bad guys.

Americans’ defence man Lukas Dragicevic was all over the Power Play, controlling the puck and controlling the play. It almost seemed like a goal was inevitable before Dragicevic zipped one past Jackson Unger to give his team the lead.

It was really too bad though because before that Moose Jaw was the better team; that goal definitely squashed their momentum.

*Lukas Dragicevic scored early - photo credit Twitter*

The Americans’ goalie, Tomas Suchanek was pretty sharp in Period One; Moose Jaw had plenty of opportunities to beat him but he shut the door every time. 14 times, to be exact.

It took a Power Play in the 14th minute of Period 2 and a lot of really good chances to do it but Denton Mateychuk finally evened the score, forcing home a loose puck after a series of shots on target.

The remainder of period two was extremely exciting, hard fought and competitive.

After getting stuck on the ice a little long, the Warriors top line started looking tired and had difficulties getting the puck out of their end. Then, when they finally did, an energized Americans’ line just stole it back and broke out on a 3-on-1. Parker Bell took the shot that went in.

A couple minutes after that Drew Freer scored a flukey one to give Tri-City a two goal lead. Moose Jaw wasn’t content to give up though and they battled back.

A dirty hit put Moose Jaw on another Power Play and Maximus Wanner scored his second of the season on it.

Then, shortly after that Riley Ginnell dropped the gloves with Tri-City’s Jake Sloan. The tilt didn’t last long, just long enough for Ginnell to land a clean shot then fall to the ice. The refs were doing their absolute best to make sure no other fights broke out.

After the four goals, nasty hits and a pair of scuffles, the teams headed to their respective change rooms. Tri-City clinging onto a one goal lead.

Jackson Unger got beat again early in the third period, on a real ugly one that seemed to suck the life-blood out of them. The Warriors were on a Power Play and lost the puck. Jake Sloan sent Ethan Ernst on a breakaway, Ernst, like a bumbling Count Dracula, lost control of the puck and somehow it still got between Unger’s legs and into the back of the net.

The Warriors weren’t the same after that and the clunky goals didn’t end there either. Dragicevic did that thing where fires a puck at the net with stunning success; it ringed off the post then Tyson Greenway batted in the rebound. That happened in the 11th minute.

Then, in the 16th Jackson Unger seemed to lose track of the puck and Adam Mechura was given way too much time with an open net.

That’s how it ended. 6-2 for Tri-City. Not a good night for the Warriors and not a good night for Jackson Unger between the pipes.

Deservedly Lukas Dragicevic was the games first star. Jake Sloan and Tyson Greenway were second and third.

The Warriors will be in Prince Albert on Friday November 4th, then in Moose Jaw on the 5th to host Red Deer.

For more Moose Jaw Warriors pics, stories and history please check out @MJWarriorsFun on Twitter and @moosejawwarriors_history on Instagram. Content is uploaded daily.