Tetachuk shining for the Warriors in push towards playoffs
Carl Tetachuk made one of the best saves of his career on Saturday, helping to preserve the Moose Jaw Warriors’ 4-2 win over the Raiders in Prince Albert.
With a minute left in regulation and the Raiders’ net empty, Ozzy Wiesblatt was set up in the bottom of the circle for a one-timer, Tetachuk dove across the crease to make a spectacular save that sealed the win for Moose Jaw.
“I was on the ice for it and I didn’t actually see it because I was in front of the net battling, but I saw the video after the game I was like, ‘oh my goodness’,” Warriors captain Daemon Hunt said on Tuesday.
“It was an amazing save, save of the year, possibly.”
Carl Tetachuk with a save of the year candidate in the final minute of the third period!#AllInTogether | @Tetachuk pic.twitter.com/EUbjGjwjaw
— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) February 20, 2022
Tetachuk earned Save of the Night honours from the Western Hockey League and also picked up his first WHL Goaltender of the Week award after posting a 1-0-0-1 record with a 0.96 goals against average, a 0.966 save percentage and a shutout over two games.
Hunt said Tetachuk has been key to the Warriors’ success over the past month.
“He’s everything to us,” he said. “When he’s playing good, we’re playing good and he’s winning us hockey games, so that’s huge for us.”
The Warriors acquired Tetachuk from the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the offseason and it has turned into a key addition for the team.
In 39 games this season, the 20-year-old netminder has a 22-10-3-2 record with a 2.81 goals against average and a 0.914 save percentage, which are both career-best numbers.
Tetachuk leads the WHL in saves, sits second in minutes and has the third most wins. His save percentage is also fifth in the league.
“This is my last year, so I just want to take everything in, make it my best year and I’m loving it in Moose Jaw here, so I just want to do my best for the team and make a good run in the playoffs,” Tetachuk said.
The Warriors sit fourth in the Eastern Conference thanks to the strong play from Tetachuk and he said he wants to keep it going.
“I want to make the most of it this year, we have the team to do it, so I’m really looking forward to it,” he said.
Tetachuk has only lost once in regulation in his last eight starts. He’s registered over 30 saves four times over that span.
He said he’s focused on being as consistent as possible this season.
“It’s been a lot better than it has been the past few years and it something I’ve been trying to work on a lot,” Tetachuk said.
That consistency has come through in big moments like Saturday’s diving save in the final minute.
“There wasn’t a ton of shots, but at the end of the game, there are some key saves I had to make to keep the team in the game, so I did my job there and the boys did the rest,” he said.
Tetachuk and the Warriors return to the ice coming up on Friday when they host the Swift Current Broncos at Mosaic Place. Tickets are available at mjwarriors.ca.
