They broke records on the ice and drew fans in record-breaking numbers to see them play.
For much of 2012 the Moose Jaw Warriors were the talk of the town and fittingly they were honoured as the Times-Herald’s team of the year for 2012.
The Warriors won a division title for the third time and advanced to the Eastern Conference final. They set a franchise record for points and another franchise mark for home wins.
The Warriors received three of the four first-place votes from our panel of voters.
The other first-place vote went to the Central Cyclones boys volleyball team who finished second overall in the poll.
Votes were cast by Katie Brickman and Matthew Gourlie from the Times-Herald sports department along with Marc Smith from Golden West Radio (CHAB, Country 100 and Mix 103) and James Gallo, the voice of the Moose Jaw Warriors.
The Warriors began the year with a talented group of 19-year-old veterans like Dylan McIlrath, Quinton Howden, Kendall McFaull and Cody Beach and bolstered their lineup with three strong 20-year-olds: Kenton Miller, Cam Braes and James Henry. They overcame the loss of Morgan Rielly and claimed their third division title banner.
After losing Game 1 in the opening round to Regina, the Warriors reeled off eight straight wins as they ousted the Pats and swept the Medicine Hat Tigers to advance to the Eastern Conference final for the second time in their 28 seasons in Moose Jaw. The Warriors lost to Edmonton in five games before the Oil Kings went on to win the WHL title.
The Cyclones had one of the best seasons in local high school volleyball history and achieved everything they could beyond winning a provincial title.
They lost the 5A boys provincial final after winning five tournaments, a city title and a regional title.
With a talented group of Grade 12s, the Cyclones nearly ended Moose Jaw’s two-decade drought for a provincial title, but were the dominant team in the province for the bulk of the year.
The Briercrest College Clippers men’s volleyball team narrowly edged the Caronport girls volleyball team and the Peacock Tornadoes football team for third place.
The Clippers were second in the regular season in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference standings and lost in the semifinals.
The Caronport girls ended Peacock’s city title streak in girls volleyball and were second at the SHSAA 4A girls volleyball provincials.
Peacock won the Moose Jaw league football title in an extremely competitive season before losing in the provincial semifinals.
The SIAST Palliser men’s volleyball team and the Park Hotel Colts fastball team also received votes.
