Ice Freeze Warriors
Moose Jaw battled hard Tuesday at Mosaic Place but came up short falling 3-1 to the Kootenay Ice.
Kootenay was able to jump onto the scored at 1:01 of the opening frame. Captain Sam Reinhart forced a turnover below the Moose Jaw right goal line, and then swung the puck to Zach Franko inside the far left circle. Franko set up Jaedon Descheneau, whose quick shot beat Justin Paulic.
Moose Jaw was able to create chances but couldn’t solve Mackenzie Skapski in the opening frame despite having a shot advantage early on. Kootenay used their transition game to get shots off the rush, put Paulic was to turn them away to keep it a one-goal game.
Kootenay outshot Moose Jaw 14-8 in the second and had three power plays. They used one man-advantage to increase their lead. At 9:41 Descheneau set up Reinhart for a deflection on top of the Warriors crease.
Moose Jaw opened the third period on the penalty kill, and after successfully killing off the penalty they turned up the heat on the Ice.
On the power play at 4:18, Ben Duperreault forced the puck from the Ice left corner to the half-wall for Torrin White. White tossed the puck towards the Kootenay net where it deflected off an Ice defenceman, beating Skapski, putting Moose Jaw on the board.
The tribe outshot Kootenay 16-11 in the final 20 minutes, notable chances to even game were a Tanner Eberle post and a Jack Rodewald power play shot, but neither found their way to the back of the net.
With their goalie pulled in the final minute the Warriors turned the puck over at their blue line to Reinhart, who scored his second of the game, sealing the Warriors fate.
Reinhart led all scorers with two goals and three points and was named the game’s first star, Moose Jaw goalie Justin Paulic made 34 saves and was named second star.
On Wednesday, players will visit Prince Arthur as part of their CIBC Read To Succeed Program. Thursday they will practice in the afternoon before leaving to Alberta for a weekend road trip. Friday they’re in Lethbridge, and then on Saturday they’ll take on the Tigers in Medicine Hat.
For the latest on the Moose Jaw Warriors, follow the team on twitter, @MJWARRIORS or like them on Facebook.
Moose Jaw Starters: G- Justin Paulic, D-Alexey Sleptsov/Dallas Valentine, LW-Torrin White, C-Brayden Point, RW-Jack Rodewald
Moose Jaw Scratches: Colton McCarthy, Alexander Chirva, Brandon Potomak
Kootenay Starters: G-Mackenzie Skapski, D-Jagger Dirk/Rinat Valiev, LW-Tim Bozon, C-Luke Philp, RW-Austin Vetterl
Kootenay Scratches: Kyle O’Connor, Tanner Faith, Jordan Steenbergen
