Moose Jaw Express Pedersen Column

Rod Pedersen’s 10 Sports Things (& More)

1 – IN THE HANGAR: Told ya the Moose Jaw Warriors’ 0-6 preseason record didn’t mean diddly squat! The Tribe opened the 2026-27 Western Hockey League season with a 7-6 overtime victory over the Saskatoon Blades at the Temple Gardens Centre on Saturday, Sept. 19. Moose Jaw product Gage Nagel was named the #1 star after netting a hattrick – including the OT winner – while goaltender Jordan Switzer (Edmonton, AB) made 32 saves for the victory. Scott King picked up the game puck, winning his Warriors head coaching debut. It all turned out nice again.

2 – BACK IN THE NESS: Captain Brady Ness has returned to the Moose Jaw Warriors following an appearance with the Detroit Red Wings at their annual Rookie Showcase, which featured games against Columbus, Pittsburgh and Dallas.“I’m really grateful for the opportunity,” Ness told writer Elizabeth Black of the Warriors official website. “It’s something you dream of, so just to go down [to Detroit] was an amazing experience.” The Red Wings won two of their three games, and Ness got in a fight.

3 – POLLY WANT A CRACKER: The Warriors have added Ryan Pollock as Recruiting & Prospect Development coach. The Regina product has a playing and coaching career in junior, college and European pro, plus stints in the golf industry and CFL. “I’d like to think that even though my professional career has taken a different path, I’ve always been a hockey guy at heart,” Pollock told the Moose Jaw Express. “I’ve always been known as someone that has understood the game and been passionate about team success.” The Warriors and Pollock are off to a good start. Nice hire.

4 – DUB PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Saskatoon Blades defenseman Brayden Klimpke has been named WHL Player of the Week (3-2-5, 2 GP). Lethbridge Hurricanes forward Dayne Beuker has been named WHL Rookie of the Week (1-2-3, 2 GP). Seattle Thunderbirds netminder Grayson Malinoski has been named Goaltender of the Week (1-0, 0.00 GAA, 1.000 PCT).

5 – WINMAR WARRIORS: The U18 Winmar Warriors closed out the 2026 preseason with an 8-5 home victory over the Regina Pat Canadians on September 20. The Warriors went 5/7 on the power play and Maxx Fuessel scored four times!

With owner Randy Krawec at Overtime Hockey Lanes in Calgary

6 – FEEL THE RUSH: The National Lacrosse League’s Saskatchewan Rush announced they’re returning to Moose Jaw for a preseason game against the Calgary Roughnecks on November 14. It’s the first Rush exhibition game at Temple Gardens Centre since 2023. Ticket presale opens on October 5.

7 – SJHL: For the first time in maybe, ever, the SJHL and WHL regular seasons opened on the same weekend. Here are your SJ Power Rankings coming out of Week 1: 1) Yorkton, 2) Flin Flon, 3) Warman), 4) Weyburn, 5) Melville, 6) Kindersley, 7) Battlefords, 8) Humboldt, 9) Melfort, 10) La Ronge, 11) Estevan, 12) Nipawin.

8 – LA BELLE PROVINCE: News broke on Wednesday night that the Canadian Football League owners voted unanimously to expand to Quebec City for the league’s 10th team. The deal is contingent on a new stadium being built so the projected timeline isn’t till 2030.

9 – WEEK 17 CFL POWER RANKINGS: 1) Montreal, 2) Edmonton, 3) Saskatchewan, 4) BC, 5) Toronto, 6) Winnipeg, 7) Calgary, 8) Hamilton, 9) Ottawa.

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: My favourite donut is “Assorted”. … My favourite Moose Jaw hair salon is Whiskey & Pearls. Look em up. … The Netflix series MAID is a tough watch. Great show though. … Movement is medicine. … Regret is a slow poison. … AND HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?

Y’er welcome,
RP

(For Moose Jaw sporting tips and scoops, email Rod at pedersenmedia@outlook.com)