Warriors Beat Broncos on Hockey Fights Cancer Night
By @MJWarriorsFun (Twitter) @moosejawwarriors_history (Instagram)
Your Moose Jaw Warriors were looking to beat more than just the Swift Current Broncos on Friday Night at the Hangar.
They were doing their part to beat cancer too. The team, dressed in purple jerseys, was honouring people impacted by cancer. It was “Hockey Fights Cancer Night” in support of the Canadian Cancer Society.
Purple jerseys for Hockey Fights Cancer Night - photo credit Twitter - Great pic by Moose Jaw Warriors)
Joining the effort was a familiar face: Ryder Korczak.
The veteran Warrior sniper was back in the lineup after a short stint with the New York Rangers AHL affiliate in Hartford.
In 3 seasons with the Warriors Korczak averaged well over a point a game. His offensive ability comes at a time when the Warriors were badly struggling to create even-strength goals.
For his first game back he was paired up with Jagger Firkus and Eric Alarie on the top line.
Ryder Korczak returned after a stint in the AHL - photo credit Twitter
Entering the game, the Warriors were ice cold, having lost two straight games, against teams with losing records, only scoring once in each game.
The first frame was competitive but the Warriors were clearly the better team. They kept out of the penalty box and peppered the Broncos keeper with 16 shots.
In the fifth minute Jagger Firkus netted his team-leading 10th of the season but only a few minutes after that the Broncos levelled the score out on a goal by Brady Birnie.
Maximus Wanner took advantage of a Broncos penalty, scooping up his own rebound and backhanding it past Gage Alexander to put his team out front again. Wanner had assisted on the Firkus goal, so this one was his second point of the night.
The Warriors made it to the locker room for intermission, looking poised, disciplined and solid, with a respectable lead.
Atley Calvert wasn’t so keen on Firkus taking command of the team lead in goals. He scored his 10th in the fifth minute of Period 2, with an assist from the Captain, Denton Mateychuk.
The goal came when Calvert used his muscle and speed to slice in behind the last of Bronco defender and flipped the puck over the goalie’s blocker.
Atley Calvert scored his 10th of the season - photo credit Twitter
Shortly after that fans were treated to a bout of fisticuffs. Caleb Wyrostock, a rather brave 5’9” right-winger, started trouble with Warriors defenceman, Lucas Brenton, who, at 6’4” just so happens to be the largest and most intimidating force on the team. Brenton smacked him around for his troubles.
The tribe added one more in the period, when Robert Baco (whom I guess we’re calling Bobzilla, now) went to the backhand to put the good guys up by a trio.
Korczak got his first point of the season when he set Firkus up early in the third period. That goal, once again put Firkus in the team lead, now with 11. Firkus didn’t put purple tape on his stick for nothing, he put the Hangar on Hat-Trick watch.
Jagger Firkus scored twice - photo credit Twitter
Matthew Ward got one back for the Broncos exactly one-minute later, making Atley Calvert pay for Boarding penalty.
On a positive note, Calvert’s penalty was only the second Warrior penalty of the game. The first was Brenton’s Fighting-Major, which didn’t lead to a man-advantage. Through two periods, The Warriors were uncharacteristically disciplined.
There was a bit of rough-housing in the third, that led to a Swift Current Power Play. Spoiler: they scored on it. Ooomph! Sam McGinley made it 5-3.
Swift Current wouldn’t back down though and the Warriors began to wither under the pressure. Matthew Ward scored a second time and suddenly people weren’t so sure about Moose Jaw pulling through. It got hairy, but in the end Moose Jaw would hang on. The final score was 5-4.
It was a match not unlike many others. They showed flourishes of greatness and dominance but struggled to put a stamp on things and earn a decisive victory.
But it was a win, nonetheless.
Mateychuk, Firkus and Mathew Ward were the game’s three stars.
The second half of a home-and-away with the Broncs is on Saturday night at InnovationPlex in Swift Current.