HOCKEYNOW: WARRIORS STAR BRAYDEN POINT REFLECTS ON SEASON
Courtesy: HockeyNow.ca
By: Ryan McCracken
Moose Jaw Warriors captain Brayden Point is one of few Canadians to experience the severe highs and lows of the World Junior Championship.
Point and Team Canada went from the top of the podium to fifth in the tournament standings over just one year due to a difficult struggle in Helsinki, Fin., but the 19-year-old Calgary, Alta. native says it’s all part of hockey
“You just learn that there’s a lot of competition out there,” Point said of reflecting on this year’s experience at the WJC.
Point recorded one goal and five assists in his five games with Team Canada this year. While he improved on last year’s mark of two goals and two assists in seven games, it doesn’t mean much after falling off the podium — from holding gold to leaving empty handed.
While it was a heartbreaking turnout for Point — one of two returning WHL players alongside defenceman Joe Hicketts of the Victoria Royals — he says every moment on hockey’s world stage comes with a lesson to be learned.
“This year just goes to show there’s a lot of work to do,” said Point. “ “There are a lot of guys who are going to play from the NHL from other countries.”
Point has certainly been putting in that work with the Moose Jaw Warriors. Since his return to the WHL, Point has been held off the scoresheet just five times in 15 contests, while gathering 10 goals and 14 assists in that time. Entering the final leg of the season, Point sits just off the pace of two points per game with 67 in 34 contests.
“It’s been easy,” Point said of his prolific return to the WHL. “I’ve been playing with good linemates on a great team so it hasn’t been too tough.”
One of those linemates has been Dryden Hunt, a skilled power forward who has also been making the most of his time in Moose Jaw, and his hands just keep getting hotter.
The Nelson, B.C. native had a February to remember, potting an astonishing four hat tricks in five games while adding four assists and an extra tally to take over the league lead in goals (45) and points (93), while picking up WHL player of the week honours for the second time this season.
“I love it. It’s been great,” said Hunt, who spent his former seasons in Medicine Hat with the Tigers and in Regina with the Pats. “We kind of had a rough stretch after Christmas, but since then it’s been good.”
It hasn’t all been Point and Hunt however, as Hunt adds Moose Jaw’s success this season has been achieved through a team-wide drive for the net. The Warriors boast three players with 20 goals or more and six players above the 40-point mark. But even those who don’t fall under the definition of prolific scorers have been pulling their weight when needed, like Ryan Bowen, who potted a goal and an assist in a 7-4 win over the Saskatoon Blades on Feb. 13.
“It’s been great for Bowen and that line to get going,” said Hunt. “They don’t get a whole lot of recognition or ice time during the season.”
On the back end, the Warriors have seen strong and consistent goaltending out of 18-year-old Zach Sawchenko — who boasts a .919 save percentage and a 2.90 goals against average through 39 appearances — and even backup Brody Wilms, who has been steadily posting plus-900 numbers form the second chair.
“He’s a good goalie and he’s been playing well for us,” said Point of Wilms. “He’s been keeping us in a lot of games.”
The Warriors sit third in the WHL’s East Division with a 29-21-7-1 record at the 58-game point of the season.