Moose Jaw Express Pedersen Weekly Column
Photo: The Rod Pedersen Show
Rod Pedersen’s 10 Sports Things reprinted with permission of the Moose Jaw Express
1 – IN THE HANGAR: The Moose Jaw Warriors are ready to open the 2026-27 Western Hockey League season on Saturday, September 19 when they welcome the Saskatoon Blades to Temple Gardens Centre in a 6:oo pm start. Their first road game isn’t till Friday, September 25 when they visit the Swift Current Broncos. The Warriors are two years removed since their 2024 Western Hockey League championship and are looking to avoid missing the playoffs for a third straight season. They won’t miss this year.
2 – PRESEASON: The Tribe concludes the preseason this weekend with a home-and-home set with the Brandon Wheat Kings. The highlight of the exhibition schedule was the September 5 game at Assiniboia’s Southland Coop Centre. Did you see any pics or videos of the match? Local hockey fans were packed to the rafters in that gorgeous *new* facility, and standing three-deep around the concourse. Get down there and check that place out if you can. I had the pleasure of broadcasting the first-ever junior hockey game in that arena, a Southern Rebels contest on 98 CKHD Radio a few year ago. By the way the Broncos beat the Warriors 5-4.
3 – THE ROSTER: It’ll be interesting to see who new Warriors coach Scott King keeps on his roster this week. Rookie Karter Lundmark turned heads in the preseason, while scouts tell me the best player in the preseason was Colt Carter. I always watch the goalies and really liked the play of rookie target Cade Mitchell. The Gull Lake, SK product acquitted himself well in the intrasquad game and preseason. He played U18 AAA in Swift Current last season.
4 – ON THE BENCH: Yes, there is a changing of the guard in Moose Jaw. Mark O’Leary spent 13 seasons as assistant and head coach and departs as the Warriors all-time leader in coaching wins, plus a Dub title. The Owen Sound, ON product joined the staff of the Abbottsford Canucks. Legend! Thanks for all you did Lears.
5 – HAIL THE KING: Warrior fans expect no drop-off to Scott King, who spent the past eight seasons as an assistant coach in the Band City. The Saskatoon product played junior in Calgary and Kelowna before a lengthy pro career and is the son of coaching savant Dave King. Good luck Scott!
6 – CENTRAL DIVISION PREDICTOR: Last week in this space we gave a prediction for the ’26-’27 East Division standings based on a poll of area NHL & WHL scouts. This week it’s the Central Division: 1) Med Hat, 2) Calgary, 3) Edmonton, 4) Red Deer, 5) Lethbridge.
7 – SJHL POWER RANKINGS: The SJHL season begins Sept. 18. Here are the preseason rankings from SJHL Insider Jamie Neugebauer of SJHL.ca: 1) Flin Flon, 2) Nipawin, 3) Battlefords, 4) Humboldt, 5) Melfort, 6) Melville, 7) Weyburn, 8) Estevan, 9) Kindersley, 10) Yorkton, 11) Warman, 12) La Ronge.
8 – CHELLY: Remember when Moose Jaw was an SJHL city? I sure do. Can’t see it ever happening again but what I love about my time in the city is that Chris Chelios’s name comes up each and every day. At least it does in my circles. The Hockey Hall of Famer from Chicago spent two full seasons with the Moose Jaw Canucks from 1979-81 and remains very proud of that to this day.
9 – CFL POWER RANKINGS: 1) Montreal, 2) Saskatchewan, 3) Edmonton, 4) BC, 5) Winnipeg, 6) Toronto, 7) Hamilton, 8) Calgary, 9) Ottawa.
10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: Can you still call SaskTel to get a wakeup call? … RIP Dolly Parton. She brought her Pure & Simple Tour to Moose Jaw on September 13, 2016. … The Winnipeg Blue Bombers tried to troll Saskatchewan pizza prior to Labour Day Classic LXI. The Mad Greek and Rodos laughed at that, and the Bombers lost 32-26 in OT. … AND HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?
(For Moose Jaw sporting tips and scoops, email Rod at pedersenmedia@outlook.com)
