Regina vs. Moose Jaw U-18 Hockey Rivalry Builds One Goal at a Time
The Regina Pat Canadians and Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors are set to see plenty of each other as they chase the prestigious Telus Cup national championship. This fierce rivalry, rooted in proximity along the Trans-Canada Highway, is heating up with every matchup.
Close Contests Define the Season
During the Saskatchewan Male Under-18 AAA Hockey League regular season, the teams met four times, with each squad winning twice. Every game was decided by a single goal, showcasing the tight competition between them. This trend continued into the playoffs, where Regina's Mahlon Wiley scored just 12 seconds into overtime to secure a 3-2 victory in the opening game of the best-of-five league championship series at the Co-Operators Centre.
"We knew Moose Jaw was good and they were gonna come hard," said Wiley, whose team trailed 2-0 early in the third period after goals by Ryder Gilroy and Marek McIvor. "But we have a lot of depth and we're just gonna keep fighting. We're never gonna get sick of them. We love playing against them."
Historical Context and Current Standings
Regina swept Moose Jaw in last year's league championship series on their way to winning the Telus Cup national title. This history adds fuel to the rivalry, as noted by Pat Canadians head coach Ryan Hodgins: "If you talk to anybody in Regina, if you're playing baseball or football or hockey, whatever, it's gonna be our rivalry. I mean, it's just down the Highway."
In the current season, Regina topped the regular-season standings with an impressive 38-3-3-0 record, sweeping playoff series against the Saskatoon Contacts and Estevan Innovex Bears. Moose Jaw followed closely with a 37-5-5-1 record, sweeping the Battlefords Stars and winning a feisty five-game series against the Saskatoon Blazers that required a late-game rally and overtime.
Playoff Dynamics and Key Players
The Pat Canadians entered the championship series better-rested, while the Warriors faced potential exhaustion, missing forward Tobin Schaefer due to a three-game suspension from the Blazers series. Despite this, Moose Jaw put up a strong fight, with goalkeeper Steven Wawryk playing a key role in keeping the game close.
"I wasn't mad at them," said Hodgins. "They were doing some good things. I think we need a little puck-luck. We had some really good chances and their goalkeeper played really well."
After falling behind 2-0 in the third period, Regina rallied with goals from Maddox Schultz and Malaki Martin in the final five minutes of regulation to force overtime. Schultz, a returnee from last year's championship team who also played 34 games with the WHL's Regina Pats, emphasized the team's drive: "You wanna win everything. When you got that spot in the regionals people might say we gotta take our foot off the gas. But for our team we've got to keep our foot on the pedal."
As the series progresses, this rivalry promises more thrilling moments, with both teams focused on securing a spot in the Telus Cup regionals and beyond. The intense competition and mutual respect between Regina and Moose Jaw highlight the passion and skill in U-18 AAA hockey, making every game a must-watch event for fans across Saskatchewan.
