Big Milestone's for Halbgewachs, Hunter and Clague in Warriors Win.

Chad Pimlott

Today marked the first time Kale Clague has played against his former team, The Brandon Wheat Kings, and the team paid great tribute to the time he spent there, by presenting him with a framed photo and a standing ovation from the 4,040 strong crowd at Westman Place in Brandon. In three-and-a-half years with the Kings, Clague put up 143 points and helped bring them to a Memorial Cup. The city also witnessed him play for the Team Canada Juniors on two separate occasions.

Brett Howden started the scoring with some aggressive action, as he out-hustled a couple defenders and shuffled the puck to Tanner Jeannot, who beat Wheat King goalie, Logan Thompson.

The game would have been quickly tied had it not been for a couple tough saves from Adam Evanoff, who did well to keep Brandon off the scoreboard early.

Jayden Halbgewachs skated around the entire Brandon team, before roofing the puck and putting the Warriors up 2-0. That goal was his 56th of the season.

Then Justin Almeida added another, finishing off some smooth passing, from Brayden Burke and Ryan Peckford, to make it a three goal lead. That's how the first period ended. Moose Jaw dominating the action; more than double the Wheat Kings shot output. 

Jett Woo landed himself a five minute penalty and a game misconduct for checking to the head and Brandon got a goal back (Connor Gutenberg) on the subsequent power play. But Justin Almeida wasted no time getting the three-goal advantage back, as he picked up the puck, on a fast break and scored a short-handed, breakaway goal.

Then it was Brandon's turn to get into penalty trouble and Brayden Burke made them pay for it, putting the Warriors up 5-1. Jayden Halbgewachs' assist on the goal was his 255th point as a Warrior, surpassing Jason Bast and putting him in fourth spot for all-time scoring leader.

In the third period, Brandon's James Shearer scored another power play goal, bringing the score a little bit closer, but then Tristyn Deroose re-directed a slapper from big Brandon Schuldhaus to make it 6-2.

Brandon's Braden Schneider, scored a third power play goal, late in the game, but 6-3 was as close as they would get.

The Warrior win was a nice milestone for coach Tim Hunter. It's his 137th win, that ties him with Al Tuer on the franchise's all-time win list. I think it's safe to say that Hunter is going to hold that record for a long time.

Justin Almeida was awarded the game's first star.