After three tough losses in a row, the Moose Jaw WINMAR AAA Warriors were able to get back in the win column with a 5-3 win over the Estevan Bears on Wednesday night.

The win came with its fair share of nervous moments, especially in the third period. Estevan was able to claw their way back from a 3-1 deficit and tie the game early in the third period.

It was Grady Hoffman and Dylan Duzan though that were able to find the back of the net in the third period to put the Warriors out in front 5-3 and secure the win after the Bears tied it.

Hoffman finished the game with two goals – one of them being the game-winner.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better start, and we built off that and then our game spoke for itself,” says Hoffman following the win on Wednesday.

“It feels great to snap that three-game losing streak and now getting back on the upswing now,” adds Hoffman.

Connor Miller finished the game with two goals as well extending his point streak to five games. Dylan Duzan added a goal and an assist, while Liam Fitzpatrick added two assists. Wyatt LaCoste, Jake Briltz, Max Threinen, and Caleb Potter picked up an assist each in the win.

Head coach Trevor Weisgerber switched up his line combinations on Wednesday night putting Hoffman on a line with LaCoste and Austin Woodley.

“They played together all last year, and we knew that we could go to them,” explains Weisgerber. “We ended up changing up some lines this week and we needed a spark and a little more scoring. Those guys played really well together, they work extremely hard, and are a line that can change the momentum at any part of the game.”

After three-straight losses, the Warriors were looking to have a quick start, which is exactly what they got.

Not even 30 seconds into the game Hoffman rifled home his first of the game over the glove of Estevan’s goalie Riley Deck to open the scoring 1-0. LaCoste picked up the lone assist on the goal.

On an early powerplay, Moose Jaw was able to extend their lead to 2-0, 1:16 later. Jake Briltz was able to find Miller at the back door, which he banged home for his first of the game and fourth of the season.

The Warriors would pound the net following there very quick start, but couldn’t extend their lead any further, and it looked like they were going to first the first with the 2-0 lead.

The Bears had different plans as they were able to beat Ryan Hicks with 16 seconds left in the frame. Blaze Gutzke took a stretch pass off the boards and streaked down the right side and outwaited Hicks and tucked it home. Kole Keen has the only assist on the play.

Moose Jaw heavily outshot the Bears in the first period 13-6.

In the second period, both teams traded goals. Moose Jaw got things started with just over 10 minutes left in the period. On the powerplay, Dylan Duzan was able to feed Hoffman on the back door and he one-timed it home for his second of the game and third of the season making it 3-1.

Back came Estevan though and like they did in the first period they were able to get a late goal to cut the lead to 3-2. Carter Onrait took a pass in front of the net off a Moose Jaw turnover and one-timed it home with 3:42 left in the period.

The Warriors led in shots after 40 minutes 21-12.

Early in the third period, the Bears would get rewarded for an aggressive forecheck on the penalty kill. Kole Keen would have a partial breakaway and bury a shorthanded goal to tie the game 3-3.

Unlike their previous three games, Moose Jaw was able to respond after their opponent tied the game. Connor Miller would get his second of the game tipping home a Liam Fitzpatrick point shot that snuck under the pad of Deck to make it 4-3.

On a very nice individual effort, Duzan would put the game away, cutting to the front of the net and tucking it home to put the Warriors up 5-3 late in the third period.

Estevan would pull their goalie but couldn’t fight their way back, losing their fifth straight game 5-3.

Weyburn’s Ryan Hicks picked up his second win of the season in a 14-save performance. His counterpart Riley Deck would suffer the loss giving up three goals on 34 shots.

Weisgerber was happy with the team’s performance following Wednesday night’s win.

“It’s good to get a win under our belt and break that slide that we were on. We did some good things tonight and just build off that.”

The Warriors doubled up the Bears in shots 34-17. Moose Jaw would finish the evening 2/5 on the powerplay, while they killed off all three penalties they faced.

The team will be back on home ice this weekend as they welcome the Saskatoon Blazers to the Moose Jaw Events Centre. Games will be on Saturday and Sunday with a 1:30 p.m. start on both days.