No one really stood out in Sunday’s Moose Jaw Warriors intrasquad game.
Warriors head coach Dave Hunchak thinks that’s a good thing.
“It was a real even game. It was one of those nights where the fans may be expecting one individual to jump out at you, but the overall level of competition is so high it was tough to single out one guy,” said Hunchak.
Instead of dazzling end to end rushes and the kind of pond hockey you wouldn’t normally see in the regular season, the Warriors hopefuls played a physical game with a good tempo.
Team Black beat Team White 5-4 to claim the Brodziak Cup Black and White intrasquad game that concluded Warriors training camp.
“It was a very good game. The guys competed extremely hard,” said Hunchak. “I thought it was physical at times. I thought there was some great skill shown. There were some nice goals. There were some real nice saves. The game had a little bit of everything.”
Hunchak was pleased with the level of competition at camp.
“It’s been very good,” said Hunchak. “Right from the organizing of it to the tremendous job our scouting staff did in getting the players here to the Booster Club doing another unbelievable job. I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews from camp attendees about the Moose Jaw hospitality.
“I’ve very pleased with the overall result of camp.”
The Warriors brass were meeting Sunday night to whittle the group down to a more workable number. They are expecting to retain somewhere between 35 and 40 players heading into Wednesday’s pre-season game with the Swift Current Broncos at the Civic Centre. That game will be a chance for both teams to play their youngest prospects — including some 15-year-olds who are too young to make the big team this season.
Torrin White, Parker Campbell, Matt Grant, Joel Edmundson and Jordan Wyton scored for Team Black.
New Slovak import Michal Hlinka, Riley Reinbolt, Sam Fioretti and Quinton Howden scored for Team White.
None of the Warriors 20-year-olds dressed in the game. Goaltender Brandon Glover also sat out as did veteran defenceman Kendall McFaull (arm) who is still nursing an injury. Tanner Eberle (knee) injured himself in camp and has been re-assigned to the midget AAA Tisdale Trojans. Veteran forward Nathan MacMaster left the game in the first period and needed six stitches to close a gash on his right thigh caused by an errant skate blade.
For more please see Monday’s Times-Herald.
