It is the one subject the Moose Jaw Warriors seem apprehensive to talk about.
In fact Mike Stothers knocked on a wooden door before answering a question; lest he jinx anything.
So let’s just say it and hope the hockey gods don’t feel fate is being tempted: the Moose Jaw Warriors are healthy.
Every last one of them.
That’s saying something considering this is the first time this season that the Warriors can make that claim as they head into Game 1 of their Eastern Conference championships series against the Edmonton Oil Kings Friday (7 p.m., Shaw).
“Everybody is on pace to play. Torrin (White) is doing remarkably well and Jordan (Wyton) is finally healed up and he’s ready to go as well,” said Stothers, the Warriors head coach. “I think we’re healthy.”
Wyton has a playing cast for his injured hand and White has been a full participant at practice after suffering a knee injury in the Medicine Hat series.
The Warriors will welcome Morgan Rielly back to the defence and Stothers said he will have some tough decisions on who to dress now that he has his full compliment of players available.
The Warriors are going to need all of their players on top of their game as they prepare to meet the challenge of the regular season champion Oil Kings. The OKs have won 19 straight games and have one of the deepest rosters in the Western Hockey League.
“You don’t get very far in the playoffs unless you have great goaltending and balanced scoring. That’s something that we’ve had so far,” said Oil Kings head coach Derek Laxdal. “We’ve had games where we’ve had defencemen step up and find the net for us. Our depth — and a balanced attack from four lines — is something we’ve had all year. We really haven’t had to go down to three lines all season.”
For more please see Friday's Times-Herald.
