The Warman U18AAA Wildcats came away with an impressive 3-0 win over the Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors at the Warman Home Centre Communiplex on Monday, October 9.
The victory was the third in four starts for the squad, giving them a strong start to the new season.
Scoring for the Wildcats were Jaxon Herchak, Mason Obrigewitch and Beckett Hamilton. Home Star of the Game Riley Deck made 27 saves to earn the shutout.
The game helped erase the bitter taste from a 5-3 loss to Moose Jaw 24 hours earlier.
“Today we took a step and hopefully we will continue to build on that,” said Wildcats coach Courage Bear. “Yesterday, we were not as good as we needed to be. They were challenged today. I thought yesterday we were complacent. We challenged the group to be better away from the puck. They paid the price. That is an indication they want to play for each other. It is the price you have to pay to win in our league. You have to do the little things.”
Wildcats captain, Martensville’s Jack Janzen, was also pleased with the team’s effort.
“It was a real good bounce back game,” said Janzen. “Yesterday was not our best effort; too many mistakes, we beat ourselves. The coaches challenged us and I am real happy with the boys and how we responded. We got Decker (Riley Deck) the shutout. It felt really good,” said Janzen.
The Wildcats had started the regular season with two road wins.
In game one on September 30 they defeated the Tisdale Trojans 7-6 in overtime.
Warman started the game strong on first period goals by Jaxon Herchak and Jack Janzen. A powerplay goal by Trey Markus increased their lead early in the second period.
But, four unanswered goals by the Trojans had the home team up 4-3.
Warman’s Beckett Hamilton tied the game at 4-4. Tisdale scored two third period goals to take a 6-4 lead.
With the goalie pulled for an extra attacker, Warman tied the game on goals by Jack Janzen at 1:34 and Connor Bear at 0.49 seconds.
Bear also scored the overtime winner, allowing the Wildcats to escape with the W.
In game two the Wildcats defeated the Saskatoon Blazers 8-4 at Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon.
The Blazers took an early 3-0 lead before Cohen Klassen got the Wildcats on the board.
Warman flipped the switch in the second period with an intense forecheck and crisp passing. Goals by Kaleb Dewar, Cohen Klassen and Ty Dauven gave Warman the lead.
It was more of the same in the third period with Beckett Hamilton, Jack Janzen, Cohen Klassen and Connor Bear hitting the twine.
Kash Andresen’s short-handed marker was the Blazers lone third period goal.
Despite being down early Coach Bear liked what the team demonstrated in that game.
“Five on five that was one of our more complete games,” said Bear. “Resiliency of this group has shown early, that is a good sign.”
In the team’s home opener against Moose Jaw at the Warman Home Centre Communiplex on Sunday, October 8, the Wildcats lost 5-3.
The home squad held a 2-1 first period lead on goals by Beckett Hamilton and Hudson Brehaut.
Moose Jaw responded with three unanswered goals in the second period.
Connor Bear’s third period goal brought Warman to within one before Moose Jaw sealed the deal with an empty net goal with seconds remaining.
The Wildcats’ next game is October 14 against the Yorkton Maulers at the Chief Denton George Memorial Complex (Ochapowace Nation).