Warriors get a hero's welcome following massive OT win in Saskatoon

It was a hero's welcome as over a hundred Moose Jaw Warriors faithful welcomed the Warriors home following a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory against the Saskatoon Blades to capture the Eastern Conference Championship for the second time in franchise history.

Lynden Lakovic scored the series-clinching goal less than a minute into overtime and the estimated 500 Warriors fans jumped to their feet at SaskTel Centre helping the team revel in the victory.

"We just keep cheering!" said Keanu Maisonnueve when he spoke with Discover Moose Jaw at the impromptu welcome back celebration in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

"No matter what we did, we just kept going for it! At the end, it was the best feeling in the world."

Keanu Maisonnueve (right) and his friends.

The crowd outside the Moose Jaw Events Centre erupted as Warriors Captain Denton Mateychuk emerged from the Warriors bus holding high the Eastern Conference Championship trophy. 

"I'm just supporting the team," said Chris Legare, "this hasn't happened since 2006 so this is nice to see!"

The Moose Jaw Warriors now chase the franchise’s first Ed Chynoweth Cup.

The Warriors are in Portland for games one and two of the Western Hockey League Championship on Friday and Saturday night. Both games begin at 8 p.m. Saskatchewan time, with the pre-game show starting at 7:40 p.m. with the voice of the Warriors' James Gallo on Country 100.

The team hosts the Winterhawks for games three and four on Tuesday and Wednesday night. Tickets for those games go on sale to the general public Friday morning at 10 a.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre box office and online.