Excitement is building in the City of Moose Jaw for the start of the 2024 WHL Eastern Conference Championship, presented by Nurtiren.
For one local family, the excitement is two-fold as Atley Calvert of the Moose Jaw Warriors gets set to take on his younger brother Rowan Calvert of the Saskatoon Blades.
“I know my grandpa would be real proud of me and my brother, playing against each other for a chance to go to the final,” Atley Calvert said after practice on Tuesday.
The Calvert brothers squared off for the first time in the Western Hockey League on Mar. 26, 2022 when Rowan hit the ice at the Moose Jaw Events Centre for the first time as a visitor with the Blades.
Since then, the brothers have been an integral part of the building rivalry between the Warriors and Blades, which will culminate in a battle for a spot in the 2024 WHL Championship Series.
“It will be fun,” Atley Calvert said. “At the end of the day, it’s probably just a little extra added motivation for me.”
The Calvert brothers grew up coming to Warriors games at the Civic Centre and then at the Hangar. Rowan said it was both his and Atley’s dream to play for the Warriors in the WHL.
“He got his chance and I’m a Blade and super happy that I’m a Blade and grateful to be here and I wouldn’t want it any other way,” he said.
Both brothers have found success so far in the 2024 WHL Playoffs.
Through nine games, Atley has picked up three goals and nine points as the Warriors eliminated Brandon in four games in the first round and Swift Current in five games during the second round.
For Rowan, he’s found his scoring touch over the final two games of the second round, scoring in both wins over Red Deer for the Blades.
Saskatoon advanced through the first round in five games against Prince Albert before sweeping away the Rebels in the second round.
The Blades and Warriors have been on a collision course throughout the season, finishing first and second, respectively, in the Eastern Conference during the regular season.
“It’s going to be fun, we’re all looking forward to the challenge,” Atley said. “We know Saskatoon’s a good team, but so are we, so it should be a good series.”
With plenty on the line heading into the series, Atley said when him and Rowan talk it’s usually about things away from the rink.
However, after being told that Rowan said Atley was the better golfer and he’s hoping that he gets more time to hit the links soon, Atley had to respond.
“Well I’m definitely the better golfer, but we’ll see about that, we’ll leave that one to the ice,” the older Calvert said.