After a busy summer, Justin Almeida is ready to lead the way for the Moose Jaw Warriors this season.

Almeida is the lone returnee from the Warriors' top-six scorers last season and he will be forced to carry a lot of the load for a young forward group.

The 19-year-old said he's ready for the challenge, "We lost a lot of leadership, a lot of older guys, but it gives an opportunity for the younger guys and guys like myself that were one of those top guys to take a bigger load and everyone has got to," said Almeida. 

"It's exciting when some of the guys that want opportunity get an opportunity now and they can show their stuff."

The Warriors lose a lot of offensive talent from last season with 165 goals departing in just four players -- Jayden Halbgewachs, Brayden Burke, Tanner Jeannot and Brett Howden.

Almeida said he doesn't look at filling their shoes as pressure, but a new challenge that has been put in front of him, "For myself, I want to be the top guy on our team, so everyone is going to have a bigger load, it's going to be a fun year, but I wouldn't say that there's too much pressure," he said.

Almeida will have a good base to build off as the 2017-18 season was quite the year for the Kitimat, B.C. product. He finished last season with 43 goals and 98 points in 72 games for the Warriors, which topped his goal total from the season before by 32 and his best point total by 70.

Following that incredible season, Almeida ended up getting drafted in the fifth round, 129th overall, to the Pittsburgh Penguins in June, and then he was invited to Hockey Canada's World Junior Summer Showcase, although he was unable to skate due to an injury.

Almeida said being selected by the Penguins was a dream come true for him.

"It was really exciting, it's a dream to get drafted into the NHL and when you go to a great organization like that, you have all the joy and stuff like that, but it also means that you have to put in some more hard work," said Almeida.

After getting drafted, Almeida attended the Penguins' Summer Development Camp, where he felt he was able to perform well after getting over the initial shock of being in the same locker that players like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin use throughout the season.

"You come in there kind of shellshocked, but after the first meeting, you get focused and you want to show why they drafted you, so I tried to do that," said Almeida.

"I did well there, obviously you always want to get better and you can get better in each scenario, but I did well there and I can play at that speed, so my goal is to get faster and be one of the top guys with speed there."

An injury held Almeida off the ice at the World Junior Summer Showcase, but he's healed up and ready to go for the season. He's also ready to show his head coach, Tim Hunter, who also happens to be Team Canada’s head coach, that he's ready to represent his country as well.

"I couldn't go on the ice there, so I have to show my stuff in the season and hopefully around Christmas time I get invited again," said Almeida. 

"Tim knows my tendencies, so he's comfortable with me and every game, every practice I have a chance to impress, so it's a good start."

While last year will be tough to top for Almeida, he said he's excited about what's in front of him this season, "The team looks really good, it's nice coming back to Moose Jaw, seeing everybody's face and getting back into hockey and get the season going, it's an exciting time," said Almeida.

Almeida will be heading to Penguins training camp next week. The Warriors open the preseason coming up on Friday when they take on the Saskatoon Blades at the Regina Pats’ Preseason Tournament.