The Moose Jaw Warriors’ 2015 preseason came to a dramatic close as they edged the Brandon Wheat Kings 2-1 in overtime Saturday at Mosaic Place.

For the second time this weekend the Warriors and Wheat Kings exchanged blows in the first period but neither was able to finish on their chances.

Goalies Zach Sawchenko and Jordan Papirny were sharp, they combined for 22 saves in the opening period, with Papirny seeing the majority at 15.  Their strong play resulted sent the game in to the first intermission with zeros on the scoreboard.

The teams buckled down defensively in the first half of the second period as they limited shots in the opening moments.  As the period went on their transition games moved up the ice in a hurry which resulted in shots off the rush.

At the mid-way point of the second the Wheat Kings went to work on the power play.  Nolan Patrick set up Kale Clague for a big slapshot from the blue line that beat Zach Sawchenko, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.

With just over five minutes left in the frame rookie import Nikita Popugaev deked around a Brandon defenseman and drove to the net for a shot on the right wing.  Popugaev picked up his rebound at the goal line and flipped the puck towards the crease where Tyler Brown was able to put a shot on the pads of Jordan Papirny.  The rebound came to 16-year-old rookie defenseman Josh Brook inside the left circle where he ripped his first of the pre-season to tie the game at one.

Brandon was aggressive throughout the third period but the Warriors held their ground and kept the game tied at one.  The best opportunities for the visitors to take the lead came on their two power plays, but the Warriors penalty kill didn’t break and kept the game tied.

Three periods didn’t produce a game winning goal which meant that the hometown fans would get their first glimpse of 3-on-3 overtime action.

Brandon controlled the first minute and a half of the extra period but the Warriors eventually gained momentum.

With just over ninety seconds remaining, Josh Brook took a low shot from the point, the rebounded landed on stick of Jayden Halbgewachs inside the left circle where he notched the game winner.

Brook finished the game with a goal and two points, Zach Sawchenko made 32 saves, Moose Jaw outshot the Wheat Kings 6-1 in overtime and 34-31 overall, they were 0-for-3 on the power play and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill.

Moose Jaw finished the 2015 WHL PreSeason with a record of 3-3-0-1, Ryan Bowen led the team in scoring with four goals and eight points, Tanner Jeannot was second with two goals and five points, six players recorded four points.

Up next for the Warriors is a date with the Regina Pats Thursday, September 24 at Mosaic Place when they’ll open the WHL’s 50th Season in a “stand-alone” feature game.