The Moose Jaw Warriors have returned to practice this week with a boost of confidence after picking up their first win of the season on Sunday in Regina.

After dropping three straight to open the season, the Warriors were in need of a win against their rivals and put together a solid game to find their way into the win column.

18-year-old forward Tate Popple said that was big for the team moving forward, "We had a tough first weekend, but we came back and we worked a lot last week on what we needed to do and we came out hard, got the win and that was important," he said.

The Warriors have had a chance to win in all four games this season, collecting three out of four points last weekend and losing to Brandon by scores of 2-1 and 4-2 in their two meetings on opening weekend.

Popple said they just need to keep improving every time they step on the ice.

"Every day we need to come and get used to our linemates and D-pairs, and just fiddle with everything that we're doing and try to get better," he said.

Popple is still searching for his first points of the season, but he's building chemistry with linemates Ryan Peckford and Tyler Smithies to give the Warriors a strong 1-2 punch in their top-six.

"I hadn't played with both of them together ever and even this week in practice, we're gelling a little more and finding each other in places and getting open for each other, so it's good," said Popple.

The Warriors will get another shot at the Wheat Kings on Friday night when Brandon comes to Mosaic Place. Stretching back to the preseason, the Warriors have lost four straight games to the Wheat Kings.

Popple feels they're close against his hometown team, "They play hard, they go hard, they forecheck and play a simple hockey game, so we’re going to have to do everything we can to counter that and play our own game," he said.

"One bad period or one bad shift (against Brandon) and you can put yourself in a hole pretty quick."

The Warriors and Wheat Kings face-off at 7 p.m. on Friday night at Mosaic Place. Moose Jaw will host the Swift Current Broncos on Saturday night.