Two losses, but two games to build off for the Moose Jaw Warriors to open the season this past weekend.

The Warriors dropped a pair of games, falling 2-1 and 4-2, to the Brandon Wheat Kings to open the 2018-19 regular season, but with a young team, the team will be using every game as a lesson early in the season.

"It's an immature team, not immature people, just an immature team. We've got lots of new guys, we're trying to find some chemistry, we're trying to find some guys that can compete for 60 minutes," said Warriors head coach Tim Hunter.

The Warriors used 12 new players on the opening weekend from last year's roster, which means there will be growing pains throughout the season.

Hunter said the first lesson will be about the importance of putting together a complete game.

"We played 20 minutes well (Friday) night and that was in the third period and it took us another 40 minutes to play well (Saturday), so 40 minutes out of 120 isn't good enough. In the last 20 of each game, we played urgent, we played how we wanted to play," said Hunter.

"Continuity is something that is going to take time and we've got some young mistakes out there and we've got some guys that haven't learned how to compete yet."

The Warriors will have a full week of practice to work on some areas of their game before they battle the Prince Albert Raiders at Mosaic Place on Saturday.

Tracey Puts Together Solid Opening Weekend

It took Brayden Tracey a year longer to make it into the Warriors' lineup than he had hoped, but he wasted no time working his way onto the team's top line.

The 17-year-old forward was moved onto a line with Justin Almeida and Tristin Langan during Saturday’s home opener against Brandon and fit right in with the two veterans.

"I feel like I can play with them for sure, it's great playing with those two guys, they're two top players and when you're out there, you just have a lot more confidence playing with them, it's definitely a good time," said Tracey.

Tracey had 21 goals and 52 points playing with the Calgary Midget AAA Northstars last season.

The former first-round pick has shown through the preseason and into the start of the regular season that he's ready to contribute right away this season.

Tracey said having the coaches confidence so quickly is huge for him, "It feels good, but at the end of the night when you don't get the win, you've got to regroup the next day and bring it out next weekend," he said.

Former Warriors forward Luka Burzan in action with the Brandon Wheat Kings. (Photo: Marc Smith)

Burzan Motivated for Wheat Kings

The Warrior fans knew that it would be tough to watch Luka Burzan in Brandon for the next few seasons after dealing off the talented forward in the Kale Clague trade last season.

If the opening weekend is any indication, Burzan is primed for a strong season for the Wheat Kings after registering a goal and two points in a pair of wins over the Warriors.

"It's good to come into the opening weekend and get the four points, that's a good start for our team," said Burzan.

The 18-year-old forward wasn't selected in the 2018 NHL Draft after being a top prospect to start last season, however, he had a showing as an invite to Ottawa Senators training camp.

Burzan plans to use this summer's snub as motivation this season.

"Not getting drafted puts some fire in my belly," said Burzan. "I'm confident enough and I know my game well, so going forward I just want to keep to improve and win for this team.”

The Warriors will see Burzan and the Wheat Kings again next Friday at Mosaic Place.