Marc Smith/MJ Warriors

The Moose Jaw Warriors couldn’t finish off the Regina Pats on Saturday night in their home opener.

The Warriors jumped out to a 3-1 lead early in the second period, but allowed five unanswered goals in a 6-3 loss to the Pats at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.

“We definitely had the chances take control of the game, we just couldn’t put the puck home and we got some unfortunate bounces that didn’t go our way,” Warriors defenceman Lucas Brenton said.

One of the Moose Jaw Warriors’ team mottos is, ‘Circumstances don’t change standards,’ and the team lived up to that on Friday night.

Despite having six regulars away at NHL training camps, the Warriors leaned on its youth in a 5-4 win over the rival Pats in Regina.

“We talked about being a relentless group and tonight was a great example of that, down a goal a few times, but it didn’t change how we played,” Warriors head coach Mark O’Leary said.

With a new look and a ton of returning talent, the Moose Jaw Warriors are aiming to make the 2022-23 Western Hockey League season one to remember.

“There’s an energy, there’s an excitement in the dressing room, but we also know that the time to perform is now — we’re not young and developing anymore, it’s time to go,” Warriors head coach Mark O’Leary said.

The Warriors finished second in the East Division, had home ice advantage in the first round and advanced into the second round of the 2022 WHL Playoffs during the 2021-22 season.

Last season, 20-year-old goalie Carl Tetachuk was a big part of the Moose Jaw Warriors’ strong season.

The veteran goalie provided a safety net for the young squad throughout the season, helping them advance to the second round of the 2022 WHL Playoffs.

This season, the Warriors will be hoping for more of the same from another overage goalie, Connor Ungar.

Atley Calvert will have the opportunity to test himself against the pros over the next week.

The Moose Jaw Warriors forward, and Moose Jaw Minor Hockey product, is heading to Buffalo to take part in the 2022 Prospects Challenge with the Sabres, starting on Thursday.

“I’m really excited for the opportunity,” Calvert said. “I like to think I worked for this my whole life and obviously, it’s one step in the right direction.”

Moose Jaw Warriors hockey returns to the ice at the Moose Jaw Events Centre this week.

The Warriors will host 68 players over five days for the team’s 2022 training camp, starting on Wednesday.

There will be 20 returning players, joined by 48 draft picks, listed players and camp invites.

The camp will feature 21 players from Saskatchewan, including four Moose Jaw products. There will be 22 players from Alberta, 14 from Manitoba, six from British Columbia and three from the United States.

Daemon Hunt will get a shot at representing Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship.

The Moose Jaw Warriors’ captain was named to the Canadian national junior team for the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship in Edmonton.

Hunt is a third-round selection of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild and has served as the Warriors’ captain for the past two seasons.

The Brandon, MB product posted 17 goals and 39 points in 46 games for Moose Jaw during the 2021-22 season. He picked up 33 goals and 94 total points over 163 games in his WHL career.

A total of 12 Western Hockey League players will suit up for Canada at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, slated for July 31-August 6 in Red Deer, Alta.

Hockey Canada announced the roster Monday afternoon.

It’s been a whirlwind week for Moose Jaw Warriors defenceman Denton Mateychuk. Just five days after being drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets with the 12th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, Mateychuk has now signed a three-year entry-level contract with the pro club.

Jagger Firkus didn’t have to wait long to hear his name called on Day 2 of the 2022 NHL Draft on Friday.

The Moose Jaw Warriors forward was selected with the third pick, 35th overall, of the second round by the Seattle Kraken.

Firkus led the Warriors with 36 goals and 80 points in his draft year as he rose up rankings.

He was named Player of the Game for Team White at the 2022 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game after picking up a goal and two points in the game.