The Moose Jaw U15 AA Warriors have a lot of high hopes coming into the 2022-23 Saskatchewan AA Hockey League season, as they feel their experience will be a valuable asset this year.  

Moose Jaw has a total of 10 returning players, which haven’t been seen in over two years and welcome a new coach in Curtis Pereverzoff, so it’s safe to say the team is fired up.  

“We’re an older team compared to last year, we have some experience under our belt,” says U15 AA Warriors manager, Chris Flanagan. “The boys are buzzing, they’re gelling pretty good out there, practices are at a high pace, and this is a very exciting year for our U15 AA program.” 

The returning players on defense are Riley Bender, Tyson Ross, Colton Flanagan, and Roman Markin.  

Forwards returning are Ryan Gibbs, Suliman Suliman, Eli McFadden, Kyren Ernest, and Carson Deichert. In net, Moose Jaw will welcome back second-year player Grayson Hrenyk.  

“The pace is something that struggles for the first-year kids, even the returning players but having 10 kids with a year under their belt is huge and they can pass that down to the younger kids on the team this year.” 

It wasn’t the start that the Warriors were looking for last weekend, as they dropped their first two games of the year by scores of 5-1 and 7-4 to two different Regina clubs.  

The two opening weekend losses haven’t gotten the team down, as there were a lot of positives that came out of each game.  

“We weren’t outshot like we were last year, we had great goaltending this year like we did last year. A 5-1 loss stings but a 7-4 loss which could’ve gone either way, the boys were in every game and were competing.” 

Flanagan notes that following their games last weekend the opposing team's coaches gave the team a lot of praise for their development from a year ago.  

Leading the way for Moose Jaw through two games this season are Carson Deichert and Roman Markin. Deichert picked up two goals and two assists, while Markin picked up a goal and an assist.  

“Deichert started off strong this year, an extremely skilled player. The team’s going to look up to him the same as Ryan Gibbs will bring a lot of skill and energy to the team. The kids on this team can see what it takes to play at this level.” 

“Our two goalies Grayson Hrenyk and Jayce Finiak have been solid between the pipes. When your goalies are confident between the net it just pores out front to the rest of the team. You’re going to see a lot of kids’ development sooner and quicker and once they hit their stride this team is going to be tough to play against this year.” 

The Warriors players will get their fair share of exposure this season by Western Hockey League (WHL) and Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) scouts, as they will be attending two high-class tournaments.  

The first is the annual 32-team Graham Tuer U15 Challenge in Regina on Oct. 27-30. The Warriors will take on some of the best players in their age group from Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.  

Then the team will head east to Manitoba for the Winnipeg Jets AAA Classic that will run from Nov. 24-27.  

If accepted Moose Jaw will travel out west for the prestigious John Reid Memorial Tournament on January 19-22, in St. Albert, Atla.  

“This is going to be a big year for these kids, they are going to get a lot of exposure which they all deserve. As the president of Moose Jaw Minor Hockey and manager of this team I couldn’t be prouder of these boys.” 

The Warriors will try and avenge that 0-2 start as they are back on the ice this weekend. On Saturday, they will welcome the Martensville Marauders at 5:30 p.m. Then Sunday, they welcome the Northeast Wolfpack for the first time this season at 12:30 p.m. Both games will be played at the Pla-Mor Palace, Bert Hunt.