https://chl.ca/whl-warriors/category/link/ Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:52:49 +0000 en-CA hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://chl.ca/whl-warriors/article/wutzke-reflects-on-impact-he-made-as-a-veteran-with-warriors Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:52:49 +0000 Elizabeth Black https://chl.ca/whl-warriors/article/wutzke-reflects-on-impact-he-made-as-a-veteran-with-warriors MOOSE JAW, Sask. - In less than a season with the team, Chase Wutzke’s professionalism and confidence played an integral part in the Warriors' chase to the 2026 WHL playoffs.  “[Chase’s] hockey sense allows him to anticipate plays to put himself in good positions, and his athleticism and competitiveness allow him to make hard saves look routine,” said Head Coach Mark O’Leary. “Going into every game, Chase gives you a chance to win.”  Wutzke was acquired from the Red Deer Rebels as part of a blockbuster trade in November, with the Warriors sending six draft picks to the Rebels, including their 2026 first-round pick for Wutzke and a 2026 second-round pick. “I’m a confident guy, so I bring a lot of confidence to a team,” said Wutzke. “There are a lot of young guys on this team who look up to you, and you have to build off that.”  In 38 games with the Warriors this season, Wutzke posted a 13-19-3-1 record with a 3.47 goals against average and a career-high save percentage of .906. “You go into battle with your brothers every night,” said Wutzke. “I think the fans saw the boys really take it hard, but hopefully it brings them back better and bigger next year.”  After the Warriors’ last game, Wutzke was recalled by the Minnesota Wild organization and made his first pro start with the ECHL Iowa Heartlanders. In six games with the Heartlanders, Wutkze owned a 2-1-1 record with a 2.98 goals against average and a save percentage of .898. After the Heartlanders' season ended, Wutzke was assigned to the Minnesota Wild for their Stanley Cup Playoff run.  Season tickets for the 2026/2027 season are on sale now at the Warriors Business Office or online.]]> https://chl.ca/whl-warriors/article/oleary-trefny-preparing-for-iihf-u18-world-championship Tue, 21 Apr 2026 16:00:41 +0000 Elizabeth Black https://chl.ca/whl-warriors/article/oleary-trefny-preparing-for-iihf-u18-world-championship TRENCIN, Svk. - The Moose Jaw Warriors will have two representatives at the 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship. Head Coach Mark O’Leary will serve as an Assistant Coach for Team Canada, and import-rookie forward Jan Trefny will represent Team Czechia.  As a member of the Warriors coaching staff since 2012, O’Leary has posted a 191-187-23-14 record since taking over as Head Coach in the 2019-2020 season. He is the franchise’s leader in both games coached and games won.  Speaking to Discover Moose Jaw’s Avery LeBlanc, O’Leary said, “I don’t want to come back the same coach I was when I left. This is an opportunity to grow and learn.” O’Leary last represented Canada as Head Coach of U17 Team Canada Black at the 2022-2023 U17 World Hockey Championship.  This is also not the first time Jan Trefny has represented his home country. Trefny was named to Team Czechia for last summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where the team posted a 2-2 record. In four games, Trefny notched an assist and was named player of the game in the team’s loss to the Canadians. In 60 games with the Warriors this season, Trefny potted 3 goals and 14 points. His first WHL goal came back in October. “I was trying to find myself at the start [of the season],” said Trefny. “At the end, I think [my game] was much better, so I’m happy with [where my game ended up], and I’m excited for next season.”  Trefny and Team Czechia kick off their campaign on Wednesday, taking on the United States. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 am CST. O’Leary and Team Canada will open their tournament at 10 am CST against the host team.  Season tickets for the Warriors’ 2026/2027 season are on sale now at the Warriors Business Office or online.]]> https://chl.ca/whl-warriors/article/thorpe-looking-to-grow-his-game-in-the-offseason Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:58:30 +0000 Elizabeth Black https://chl.ca/whl-warriors/article/thorpe-looking-to-grow-his-game-in-the-offseason MOOSE JAW, Sask. - After his sophomore season, Riley Thorpe hopes to take another step this offseason as he heads into his third year in the Western Hockey League.  “Riley has a great combination of skating and puck skills that produced some highlight reel goals,” said Head Coach Mark O’Leary. “We expect him to be a guy that we lean on in big moments and a key contributor in our top six forward group next year.”  In 67 games this season, Thorpe tallied a career high 16 goals and 37 points. Thorpe also dressed as a member of Team East at the 2026 WHL Prospects Showcase in February.  “I think growing my game offensively and defensively,” said Thorpe. “If this team wants to go far, I need to be at my best. I think I need to be not only producing but also defending.”  Thorpe notes that battling adversity throughout the season builds character for the team.  “Everyone wants to win, us, Moose Jaw as a whole, we want to see this team do well,” said Thorpe. “When you lose two seasons in a row, it's pretty tough, but you don’t want to feel that a third time. Coming into next season, [we’re] going to be super hungry and willing to do what it takes to make the playoffs.”  Season tickets for the 2026/2027 season are on sale now at the Warriors Business Office or online.  ]]> https://chl.ca/whl-warriors/article/carter-looking-for-productive-offseason Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:00:56 +0000 Elizabeth Black https://chl.ca/whl-warriors/article/carter-looking-for-productive-offseason MOOSE JAW, Sask. - As one of the youngest players on the Warriors’ roster this season, rookie defenceman Colt Carter made a name for himself right from the first puck drop.  “At only 16, Colt has shown a real professional approach to the game,” said Head Coach Mark O’Leary. “He has the hockey sense, agility, and puck skills that are going to make him a real fun player to watch, and his character makes him an absolute pleasure to coach.” Carter’s first goal came in his season debut, back on September 19. His second goal came the next night, and his third goal found the back of the net in his third game of the season just a week later.  Carter’s blistering scoring pace set him up to be the team’s Rookie of the Year at the annual Awards Night and earned him the honours of the second-highest scoring 16-year-old defenceman in franchise history. “I’m going to work on my compete this summer,” said Carter. “Obviously [I’m] going to build my skills and my game [to be more] dominant next year.” Carter notes that while the team battled adversity all season long, the ‘battle and compete’ mentality that the team became so familiar with will fuel the offseason and set them up for a strong start to the 2026-2027 season.  “I know we had a lot of one-goal games,” said Carter. “I think it’s going to be a big summer, putting in the work, we’re going to battle and come out strong.”  Season tickets for the 2026/2027 season are on sale now at the Warriors Business Office or online.]]> https://chl.ca/whl-warriors/article/schmidt-looking-to-continue-building-game-in-offseason Mon, 13 Apr 2026 19:00:07 +0000 Elizabeth Black https://chl.ca/whl-warriors/article/schmidt-looking-to-continue-building-game-in-offseason MOOSE JAW, Sask. - In his third season in the WHL, Connor Schmidt took another step in growing his game while being added to the Warriors’ leadership group. “When you picture ‘races and battles’, you picture Connor Schmidt,” said Head Coach Mark O’Leary. “Whatever the situation or the circumstances, you know you are going to get a relentless effort and all-in compete.”  Schmidt’s effort on the ice earned him an ‘A’ just before Christmas.  “It meant a lot,” said Schmidt. “We have a really tight group here, so to lead that group, it was very special for me.”  This season, Schmidt tallied a career-high 16 goals and 40 points through 66 games, and as he heads into his fourth season with the Moose Jaw Warriors, he notes that offseason preparation is key to getting a strong start at training camp next year. “[This offseason I want to] try to build [my game] in a lot of ways,” said Schmidt. “[Maybe] putting on some weight, trying to get faster, and keep working on the little details.”  Schmidt notes that the foundation the team built this season will be key to taking another step next year.  “This year, we had a lot of guys injured throughout the year, so to see everyone push through that was good to see,” said Schmidt. “Next year, we need to come in really hungry and motivated to get into the playoffs.”  Season tickets for the 2026/2027 season are on sale now at the Warriors Business Office or online.]]> https://chl.ca/whl-warriors/article/mcfadden-looking-to-be-relied-on-more-next-season Fri, 10 Apr 2026 19:00:53 +0000 Elizabeth Black https://chl.ca/whl-warriors/article/mcfadden-looking-to-be-relied-on-more-next-season MOOSE JAW, Sask. - After being scratched in the first game of the year, Landen McFadden proved his value tenfold over the course of the rest of the season.  “Landen’s game really matured this year,” said Head Coach Mark O’Leary. “His shot can beat goalies from distance and in tight, and he did a great job getting himself in positions to do just that in many big moments throughout the year.”  McFadden notched two goals and five points in his season debut, helping to push the team to a 9-7 Home Opener win over the Brandon Wheat Kings.  “[I came] in with a lot more confidence this year,” said McFadden. “I think last year was a year where I took a step in the offseason to be a guy that wanted to be relied on more.”  McFadden ended the season as the team’s top scorer with 32 goals and 68 points, blowing away his previous career high of six goals and 15 points set during his rookie season the year before.  “I want to be a guy that’s relied on in every area of the ice,” said McFadden. “I want to come in and take the younger guys and lead by example, I want them to follow what I do, and I want to win a championship here.”  McFadden notes that the season had a lot of highs and a lot of lows, most notably, the most notable low was the result of the final game, where the team fell to the Swift Current Broncos, eliminating them from the playoffs.  “There wasn’t one guy with a smile on their face [after the last game],” said McFadden. “It shows that we care, and it shows that we wanted to do something, but we came up short, and hopefully we can change the narrative on that next year.” Tickets for the 2026/2027 season are on sale now through the Moose Jaw Warriors Business Office or online. ]]> https://chl.ca/whl-warriors/article/season-recap-general-manager-jason-ripplinger-reflects-on-the-season-2 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:00:32 +0000 Elizabeth Black https://chl.ca/whl-warriors/article/season-recap-general-manager-jason-ripplinger-reflects-on-the-season-2 MOOSE JAW, Sask. - After missing the playoffs by a single point, General Manager Jason Ripplinger says that the season was frustrating.  “We have to look in the mirror and look at ourselves and think about where we should be better,” said Ripplinger. “Our coaching staff, our scouting staff, we all work hard, but we have to make some better decisions.”  Ripplinger points to the team’s injury struggles as a negative for the season, but the positive about the number of injuries that the Warriors faced was the development of the team’s rookies and prospect pool.  “That’s what our league is all about, [it’s] about player development,” said Ripplinger. “There [were] players on our team this year that got more opportunity [due to the injuries] and they’re better for it.”  The Warriors saw nine players make their debuts during the 2026/2027 season, including 2010-born prospects Dylan Mingo (2025, 41st overall), Kash Elke (2025, 18th overall), and Jett Prpich (2025, 94th overall). Additionally, Colt Carter, Cohen Williams, Gage Nagel, and William Degagne, who made their WHL debuts in previous seasons, embarked on their rookie campaign.  After finishing with a record of 25-36-5-2, Ripplinger notes that there are some spots on the roster to be filled, including spots vacated by the team’s three graduating players, Ethan Semeniuk, Pavel McKenzie, and Aiden Ziprick. All three of the team’s 20-year-olds were among the team’s top four scorers.  “It’s going to be a competitive [training camp in the fall],” said Ripplinger. “We have a lot of players coming up that want the older guys' spots, so [everyone] is going to have to be ready.”  Watch the full interview with General Manager Jason Ripplinger here. Season tickets for the 2026/2027 season are on sale now at the Moose Jaw Warriors Business Office or online.   ]]> https://chl.ca/whl-warriors/article/brown-looking-forward-to-productive-offseason-heading-into-final-whl-season Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:00:22 +0000 Elizabeth Black https://chl.ca/whl-warriors/article/brown-looking-forward-to-productive-offseason-heading-into-final-whl-season MOOSE JAW, Sask. - After an impressive sophomore season, Casey Brown is preparing for another productive offseason heading into his final year of WHL eligibility.  “Last year, coming in, I [was lacking] confidence from not playing,” said Brown. “I had to work on the consistency part for the first half, and in the second half, I think I found that.”  After joining the team in November 2024 from Penticton in the BCHL, Brown recorded three goals and eight points in his rookie season. His production in his sophomore season exploded, tallying 22 goals and 38 points.  “Casey took a huge step this year. He found ways to use his best asset of speed to influence games,” said Head Coach Mark O’Leary. “His production both five-on-five and on the penalty kill makes him very valuable and an important part of any line he plays with.”  Brown’s impressive season ended on March 20 after leaving the Warriors’ second-last regular-season game with an injury that held him out of what turned out to be the team’s final game the next evening.  “I think a big offseason plays a big factor in the following year,” said Brown. “[There’s time to] get healthy, stronger, faster, bigger and just work on the little [aspects of my game].”  Brown’s injury late in the season was far from the only injury the team faced this year.  “We battled a lot of adversity; we had guys hurt pretty much every game,” said Brown. “We learned that you have to battle. It’s a tough season, it’s not [the ending we wanted], but we have to look at the bigger picture.”   ]]> https://chl.ca/whl-warriors/article/semeniuk-looking-forward-to-new-opportunities-in-ncaa Thu, 02 Apr 2026 16:02:58 +0000 Elizabeth Black https://chl.ca/whl-warriors/article/semeniuk-looking-forward-to-new-opportunities-in-ncaa MOOSE JAW, Sask. - After 276 games in the WHL, 166 of those wearing the Moose Jaw crest, graduating player Ethan Semeniuk is moving on to the NCAA.  “It meant a lot to wear the Warrior logo,” said Semenuk. “Moose Jaw is a second home to me now. I’m sure I’ll be back lots over the course of my lifetime.”  Semeniuk was acquired from the Vancouver Giants in the offseason of 2023 ahead of the Warriors' 2024 WHL Championship run. “For a coach, you always have those guys that are like swiss-army knives, they fill whatever role you need them to,” said Head Coach Mark O’Leary. “That’s what makes him so valuable, his ability to play any role that he needs to and, most importantly, to help the team find success.”  In his first season with the Warriors, Semeniuk tallied eight goals and 24 points in 50 games played. Each season, Semeniuk bettered himself, and in his overage season, Semeniuk tallied 16 goals and 43 points. “We don’t win [the 2024 WHL Championship] without that third line, and he was a big part of that,” said Head Coach Mark O’Leary. “[Now], he’s a guy the coaches can rely on to do the right thing the right way always.”  During his time with the Warriors, Semeniuk billeted with teammates Brady Ness, for his first two years, Max Finley, and, this year, Benson Hirst.  “[Ethan’s] my billet brother, I’ve lived with him for two or three years now,” said Brady Ness. “I’ve spent a lot of time with him and made a lot of good memories. He’s a guy that I look up to; he’s just a great person.” Now, Semeniuk will test out the waters of college hockey, heading south of the border to Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut.  “I had the opportunity to talk to the coaching staff quite a bit before I ended up committing there,” said Semeniuk. “The facility is incredible, and I’m looking forward to getting to see it in person.”   ]]> https://chl.ca/whl-warriors/article/ziprick-reflects-on-his-growth-as-a-member-of-the-moose-jaw-warriors Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:18:19 +0000 Elizabeth Black https://chl.ca/whl-warriors/article/ziprick-reflects-on-his-growth-as-a-member-of-the-moose-jaw-warriors MOOSE JAW, Sask. - After 220 regular-season games in the WHL, 188 wearing the Moose Jaw Warriors logo, graduating defenceman Aiden Ziprick reflects on his time in the friendly city.  “Ever since I’ve been here, I’ve loved playing here,” said Ziprick. “The Championship run is something I’ll never forget. Being able to do that in Moose Jaw with the support we had and all the fans, it’s something really special, and I’ll truly remember it forever.”  Ziprick’s first career goal came in the last regular season game of 2023/2024. His second goal came two months later when the Moose Jaw Warriors were in a fight against the Drummondville Voltigeurs to keep their Memorial Cup journey alive. “A big moment like [his game-winner at the Memorial Cup] can do a lot for a guy,” said Head Coach Mark O’Leary. “Credit to him, he didn’t sit on [the momentum], he used it as a stepping stone to what we see now.” The momentum from his goal at the Memorial Cup, as well as increased opportunities due to players from the Championship team moving on, led to back-to-back career seasons for Ziprick. “He’s been our best defenceman for two years now,” said former captain Lynden Lakovic. “His confidence has built over the last two years, and just as a human being, learning to be a leader, his play on the ice has shown [his growth].” In his first 84 regular-season games in the WHL, Ziprick tallied one goal and ten points. Over his next 68 games, Ziprick recorded 12 goals and 48 points. And, in the 68 after that, 20 goals and 56 points.  “[Wearing this logo] meant the world to me,” said Ziprick. “Being able to play with a lot of older guys [when I was young] and being able to get the mentorship from them, and then being able to carry that on in [as a leader], it meant everything to me.” One defenceman that Ziprick was able to mentor during his time with the Warriors was 16-year-old Colt Carter.  “His leadership was top-notch,” said Carter. “He leads by example, always doing the little things right and doing the right thing.” Ziprick will continue his hockey career next season in the NCAA, heading south to Bemidji State University.  “I was able to keep in really good contact with them,” said Ziprick. “They’re really supportive of my game and everything [I’ve been working on].”  ]]>