Opinion - Making the Case: Connor Ungar is the Warriors MVP
By @MJWarriorsFun (Twitter) @moosejawwarriors_fun (Instagram)
Connor Ungar about to head onto the ice - MJ Independent file photo
The Warriors may have won their last game. But it didn’t come easy. In the first period they were outclassed and outshot badly by the Kamloops Blazers, only managing to keep the score at zeroes on account of tremendous goaltending from Connor Ungar.
In period two, they took advantage of some Blazer penalties and scored three goals. In period three, they were again badly outplayed and outshot, Kamloops scored twice to make it close but Connor Ungar shut the door when it counted the most and the Warriors were able to hang on and win. There were some scary moments and the victory was narrow, but it was a victory nonetheless.
The Warriors won 3-2, while being outshot 38-29.
Ungar made 36 shots in the win over Kamloops - photo credit Twitter
Outcomes such as this have been common this season. The Warriors get outworked and pelted with shots, but Ungar keeps the goal count low and the Warriors win.
I’m going to make the case for why Connor Ungar is the team’s Most Valuable Player and arguably the best goaltender in the WHL.
His team rarely puts more shots on the net than the teams they face and it’s not uncommon at all for them to be outshot by massive amounts. He keeps close losses tight, he holds on to wins most goalies wouldn’t be able to and he doesn’t crack under pressure.
The Ungartaker - photo credit Moose Jaw Warriors
The team is chock full of top-tier talent who locals know and recognize. Brayden Yager and Jagger Firkus score tons of points. Denton Mateychuck is a lock for NHL stardom. They’re all household names in Moose Jaw. But it’s Connor Ungar, whose name is not nearly as popular, whose face most couldn’t pick out of a line of criminals, who has been the team’s most valuable asset.
Let’s break it down.
In the first game of the season the Warriors beat Regina 5-4. This was a game where 7 of the Warriors top stars did not play because of commitments to NHL teams. Firkus, Korczak, Mateychuk, Max Wanner, Cole Jordan, Martin Rysavy and Robert Baco were all scratches. The Warriors were outshot 39-20 but still won.
On October 5th they were outplayed badly by Saskatoon. The Blades had 41 shots on goal compared to the Warriors 22. Saskatoon dominated every inch of the ice except for in net.
They just couldn’t score on Ungar. Ungar was a brick wall. The Warriors won 3-1 and Ungar was named as the game’s First Star.
In their 4-1 victory over Everett Ungar made 46 saves. More than 20 more saves than the Silvertips goalie made.
In November 11th the Warriors were badly outplayed by Medicine Hat, outshot 38-27. Unger kept them in it long enough that it was decided by a penalty shootout. Ungar won the shootout too.
A week later he had a 33 save shutout over Swift Current, his first shutout as a Warrior.
Ungar is 11-4 as a starting goalie. The only goalie with more wins is Daniel Hauser and he plays for the 22-2 Winnipeg Ice. They’ve scored 111 goals, Moose Jaw’s only scored 75.
Connor Ungar - photo credit Moose Jaw Warriors
His Goals Against Average is 2.52, there’s a few goalies ahead of him there but he faces far more shots than they do.
That’s why his Save Percentage is the best in the league amongst starters. He’s got a 9.27.
That puts him hot on the trail of Mike Brodeur’s All-Time Team High 9.29 Save Percentage that he set in 2003-2004.
The next closest was Zachary Sawchenko’s 9.17 SV% in 2016-2017. Both Brodeur and Sawchenko got drafted into the NHL. As of yet, Ungar has not been drafted.
Former Warriors goalie Mike Brodeur played 7 NHL games
If Ungar keeps this play up all season, he could go down as the greatest goalie in Warriors history, or even just greatest season from a goalie in Warriors history.
Either way, he’s been fantastic all season and if he’s on the ice you can never count the Warriors out.
