Preseason action continues in Estevan, as Affinity Place play host to a 40 year rivalry.
The Moose Jaw Warriors and the Regina Pats are making their way into the Energy City to face off in a Western Hockey League preseason scrimmage. Even looking back in the previous season, there was a healthy rivalry that brewed between the teams. The Warriors were able to dominate their Regina counterparts by claiming 7 out of the 8 meetings they had.
"I think this weekend is about the Warriors evaluating...what they have and I think that's going to be key for the team moving forward. Different players playing different roles -- that may be a good opportunity for general manager Jason Ripplinger to take a look at," the director of hockey administration and play-by-play host for the Warriors, James Gallo, shared.
"[The Pats] had their rookie game on Wednesday. It was a rookie contest against the Swift Current Broncos, playing a lot of 15 and 16 year olds. The team did lose 8-5, but I actually quite liked what I saw from some of the younger players; some guys that were recently just drafted in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft. Those players have now been reassigned, but you look at some of the players that will be in the lineup tonight, lots of exciting names on that list, guys that are going to be future WHL stars," added Dante De Caria, manager of broadcast and hockey communications for the Regina Pats.
There is a looming elephant in the room that needs to be addressed: Moose Jaw won the WHL championship title last season and went on to represent the league at the Memorial Cup in Saginaw, Michigan. Does that add onto the intensity the fans will see tonight? Regina was quick to point out the players that the rivalry will be losing this year.
"Moose Jaw may have a little bit of a target on their back, but they're losing a lot of their star players. They're not going to have Brayden Yager in the lineup tonight. He's away at...the Winnipeg Jets camp. He was traded from Pittsburgh to Winnipeg. Then you look at [Pats'] Tanner Howe, a second round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins -- he's also at Pittsburg Penguins training camp, so Estevan Bruins fans won't have an opportunity to see those players in the lineup tonight," De Caria expressed.
Regina: 'I don't know if Moose Jaw is going to make the playoffs this year.'
"They are losing a ton of firepower that they had last year. Jagger Firkus led the entire Western Hockey League in points. Atley Calvert was a fantastic 20 year old. Then, you had a handful of first-round picks like Brayden Yager, who I assume will be on the, I guess, the trade block this season because Moose Jaw needs to recoup one of those draft picks, and Matthew Savoie, who was traded from Buffalo to Edmonton. He's a first round pick and you'd expect that he'll be playing, maybe, alongside Connor McDavid this upcoming season."
Moose Jaw, on the other hand, noted that it might not make a difference.
"I mean, junior hockey's cyclical, right? The Warriors peaked on their cycle last year and it worked out really well, winning the Western Hockey League championship. There are 16 guys [that] are available to return to this year's team when the regular season opens up coming up on September 20th. You know, I don't know if there's a target per say just because they are the reigning champs. I think it's just, you know, the Warriors just want to go about their business. They just focus on themselves and not necessarily what the other teams do," Gallo said.
Moose Jaw: 'The focus is just on the Moose Jaw Warriors.'
"These two teams have a great rivalry. It's been going on for 40 years now since the Warriors came to Moose Jaw from Winnipeg. What it's gonna be like tonight? No idea. I think the Pats will be similar to Moose Jaw. They want to see their own players -- that's what they're more preoccupied. Both teams are going to be worried about themselves. The focus is on the Moose Jaw Warriors right now and evaluating to see what we have on the ice," Gallo added.
Neutral ground. That's what Estevan will be for these two teams heading into tonight's game. Both teams have recognized the city's hockey history and prowess.
"I think it's great. I love the fact that that the Western Hockey League teams do these neutral site games. The Warriors has some pretty good connections down in the south country. You think about a guy recently and that's Tanner Jeannot. A proud Moose Jaw Warrior, wore the jersey well, great player. He's from Oxbow and his dad was the principal down in Estevan. I know there are some Warrior fans down there and I think this is a great opportunity for Moose Jaw to get down in Estevan and, you know, entertain some new fans. This is a great opportunity for both teams," Gallo expressed.
"Estevan's a great facility. [I've] been there a handful of times. I've broadcasted a few games down there and it's a great vantage point. It's a great place to watch junior hockey. It's a great place to play junior A hockey. I know the organization has had some success with the championship a couple of years ago as well, so [I'm] really looking forward to tonight. Really looking forward to the opportunity that fans will have to see some great players and some autographs that the players will be signing for the fans after the game as well," De Caria added.
The WHL will rock Affinity Place with a rivalry that's 40 years deep. The puck drops between the Moose Jaw Warriors and the Regina Pats tonight at 7:00 p.m.