Warriors Sign Three More Prospects

After inking two defencemen on Monday, the Moose Jaw Warriors signed three more prospects on Tuesday, bringing the total to five coming out last weekend's training camp.

Forwards Cade Hayes and Jesse Mistelbacher, as well as defenceman Braden Miller, signed their WHL Standard Player Agreements on Tuesday to commit to the Warriors.

Hayes was an eighth-round pick by the Warriors in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft and he said he's excited to have this step of his career in the books.

"It's unbelievable, it's an awesome feeling," he said. "Just getting drafted was pretty cool and to sign now, it's awesome."

Hayes put together a stellar first season in the Warriors' system during the 2017-18 campaign as he led the Tisdale Trojans of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League in scoring with 19 goals and 36 points in 44 games, which also put him second in the league in rookie scoring.

Warriors GM Alan Millar said the team likes what they've seen so far from Hayes, "Cade is coming off a very good year in Tisdale as a 15-year-old and has improved considerably since we drafted him in 2017," he said. "He has good hockey sense and can score."

The 16-year-old from Leader, Sask. said that he's focused on continuing to improve moving forward, "I've been working on the things that they've told me to," said Hayes. "Just getting stronger and getting a bit quicker on the ice."

Mistelbacher was listed by the Warriors last fall after originally being selected by the Prince George Cougars with a sixth-round pick in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft. The Ile Des Chenes, MB product said he's happy that the work he’s put in paid off with the chance to sign in Moose Jaw.

"I'm very excited, I'm very proud to sign with such a good organization," said Mistelbacher, who posted 15 goals and 47 points in 48 games with the Eastman Selects last season in the Manitoba Midget AAA Hockey League.

Millar said the Warriors been impressed by how prepared Mistelbacher was for training camp, "Jesse came into training camp very prepared and focused on earning this opportunity," he said. "He plays a solid, complete, hard and smart game."

The 17-year-old added that he's just been focused on improving each time he steps on the ice, "The first game (at training camp) was a little nerve-racking, but after that, I just stepped up my game each game," said Mistelbacher.

"I feel like I've shown them what I can do and that I'm capable of playing at this level."

The Warriors listed Miller after training camp last season and the team has been very pleased with how he’s developed his game over the past season.

"Braden is another player who has significantly improved since we listed him at training camp a year ago," said Millar. "He plays a smart, solid game and has good potential."

The Sherwood Park, AB product said he's excited to be a part of the Warriors’ organization. "I came in as a listed player hoping for some main camp action and I got, and I'm shocked to be signed, but now I'm happy and proud it happened," said Miller.

"This is a great moment in my young hockey career, I can't wait for what the future holds for me and I just can't wait to get started."

Miller had four goals and 13 points in 28 games with the Sherwood Park Squires in the Alberta Minor Midget Hockey League.

The five-foot-11, 160-pound defenceman has signed with the team before some players that were selected in the bantam draft during his draft year. Miller said he has just stuck to his game and it's paid off.

"I showed a quiet game, not too many mistakes, just confidence with the puck, smart plays and it got me here," he said.

All five of the Warriors' newly signed prospects will get their first taste of the Western Hockey League this weekend when the team opens the preseason with games against Saskatoon on Friday and Regina on Saturday.