Warriors sign three players to WHL Standard Player Agreements
The Moose Jaw Warriors have signed three players to their Western Hockey League Standard Player Agreements on Thursday.
Ethan Hughes, Landen McFadden and Jonah Tonhauser committed to the Warriors and WHL this week after strong performances during the team’s training camp on the weekend.
“Today is an exciting day for our organization to have these three players commit to the Warriors and the Western Hockey League,” Warriors general manager Jason Ripplinger said.
Hughes was selected by the Warriors in the fourth round of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.
The skilled forward posted 21 goals and 43 points in 31 games with the CAC Canadians under-16 AAA team last season. He added four goals and 11 points in nine games during the playoffs.
“It was awesome, it was a very exciting moment for me and my family,” Hughes said about signing with the Warriors. “A lot of hard work to get to this point, so it was good.”
McFadden was taken by the Warriors in the fourth round of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.
The Edmonton product finished with 27 goals and 49 points in 30 games for the OHA Edmonton under-15 prep team. He also scored one goal and four points in three games with the under-16 prep team.
“I’ve been dreaming about this moment ever since I was a kid and now it’s time to work harder and get to that next step,” McFadden said on signing his WHL SPA with the Warriors.
“With the signings of Hughes and McFadden, they’re highly skilled forwards that will fill a gap in our organization,” Ripplinger said. “They bring a quality of good hockey sense and speed, which is how we want to play as an organization.”
Tonhauser came to the Warriors with a third round pick in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.
The six-foot-five goaltender went 6-4-3 with a 3.80 goals against average, a 0.876 save percentage and one shutout in 18 appearances with the OHA under-15 prep team.
“Super excited, this is what I’ve been working for, so it’s really cool to see that come to reality for me and become a Warrior,” Tonhauser said.
“Tonhauser gives us more depth in net going forward,” Ripplinger added. “He’s a big goalie that moves really well and has the opportunity to be a starter in our league one day.”
With the signing of the three players, the Warriors have now signed the team’s top five picks from the 2021 and 2022 drafts.
All three players will make their preseason debuts this weekend when the Warriors open the preseason with a home-and-home set against the Swift Current Broncos.
Moose Jaw hosts Swift Current on Friday at the Moose Jaw Events Centre and then travels to the Innovation Credit Union I-Plex on Saturday.
