The partnership between the Moose Jaw Warriors and Canadian Forces Snowbirds is built upon mutual appreciation.

For the past six seasons, the junior hockey team has spent a day with the Snowbirds, seeing what goes into making them “Warriors of the Sky” as they focus in for each flight.

Following that, the Warriors allow the air demonstration team to hit the ice with them for a practice and give them a taste of what they do everyday throughout the season.

That day came on Saturday as the Warriors hit the Red Knight Arena ice at 15 Wing Moose Jaw for a morning practice.

“It’s a fantastic partnership,” said Toby O’Brien, an ACS Tech with the Snowbirds. “The first year we did this, we had 6-7 of 431 come out and skate and now we’re up to 20. The partnership between the Warriors and Snowbirds is just fantastic.”

Warriors forward Branden Klatt was one of the players that had the opportunity to head to the sky with the Snowbirds this year. He was joined by Brayden Burke and Brody Willms.

After an incredible experience last month, Klatt said it was fun to return the favour for the pilots and crew by welcoming them on the ice for practice.

“It’s fun going through what they go through on a day-to-day basis, so it’s nice to get them out there and show what we do and have some fun with them,” said Klatt.

“The two biggest things in Moose Jaw are the Snowbirds and the Warriors, so it’s really nice to have a partnership. What they do is team based and what we do is team based, it’s nice to share that partnership and have a connection with those guys.”

While there’s a bit life-and-death risk to what the Snowbirds do each day, O’Brien said it’s still eye-opening for them when they get the chance to hit the ice with the Warriors, who are leading the Western Hockey League this season.

“For an older guy like myself, coming out and skating with these young guys and seeing how fast they actually are, it’s kind of fun,” he said. “Seeing how the handle the puck on the ice with them, it’s incredible to see.”

The Warriors led the Snowbirds through a number of drills and then they were split into two teams for a scrimmage that ended with Team White winning in a shootout.

“They did pretty good actually, some of the guys were ripping the puck pretty good, there was one really nice pass to send a guy a breakaway and then some big saves too,” said Klatt.

The Snowbirds will continue to prepare for their upcoming show season, while the Warriors’ focus now turns back to their East Division rivals as they head into Regina on Sunday afternoon to wrap-up a home-home-and-home with the Pats at the Brandt Centre.

The Warriors will also travel to Brandon on Monday.