Rod Pedersen’s 10 Moose Jaw Sports Things (& More)

Reprinted with permission from the Moose Jaw Express Newspaper …

1 – IN THE HANGAR: Moose Jaw Warriors 2026 Training Camp closed on Monday, August 31 with Team Red beating Team Grey 8-6 in a 5:00 pm start in the Intrasquad Game at Temple Gardens Centre. The game was fairly well-attended for a Monday, and such an early puck drop. Then, there were goals galore including a pair from Colt Carter. The Drayton Valley, AB product had 8-30-38 in 61 games for the Tribe last season and will be heavily relied upon to lead the team back to the playoffs for the first time since Moose Jaw’s 2024 WHL championship season.

2 – TRANSCANADA CLASH: The Warriors opened the exhibition schedule with a 3-2 OT loss at Regina. Riley Thorpe and Chase Petersen scored in a losing cause while Cade Mitchell and Dylan Mingo split goaltending duties. Pats veteran Matt Paranych scored the winner just 34 seconds into OT. 2025 #1 overall bantam pick Maddox Schultz did not play for Regina. Attendance was listed at 618 in the Brandt Centre, and it felt like there were more at the Warriors intrasquad game!

3 – BLOODLINES: Some names in the lineups should look familiar. Moose Jaw forward Karter Lundmark hails from Malvern, Pennsylvania and is the son of Warrior great Jamie Lundmark (1998-2000). Karter scored twice in the intrasquad game. Meanwhile Regina Pats rookie Parker Trottier is the grandson of Hockey Hall of Famer and former Swift Current Bronco Bryan Trottier. Parker is a product of Edina, Minnesota.

4 – LOOKING AHEAD: The Warriors open the season on Saturday, September 19 at home to the Saskatoon Blades in a 6:00 pm start. Their first road game is Friday, Sept. 25 at the Swift Current Broncos.

5 – 2026-27 EAST DIVISION PREDICTOR: 1) Regina, 2) Prince Albert, 3) Moose Jaw, 4) Brandon, 5) Saskatoon, 6) Swift Current.

6 – DRAFT STATUS: A big reason for the lofty prediction for the Regina Pats is the presence of star 16-year old forwards Maddox Schultz and Liam Pue. They’re both top prospects for the NHL Draft but not till the summer of 2028. The #1 prospect for the 2027 Draft – according to TSN’s Craig Button – is Latvian forward Ilja Nikitins of the NAHL. The top-rated WHL’er is Prab Bhathal of the Brandon Wheat Kings. Remember exceptional player Landon DuPont, who led the Everett Silvertips to the 2026 WHL title? He’s ranked 17th overall.  

7 – GREY CUP ODDS: Can’t believe it’s taken us this long to get to football. Have you been following the CFL season? Here are the 2026 Grey Cup favorites from DraftKings: Montreal (+194), Saskatchewan (+375), Edmonton (+425), BC (+750), Calgary (+800), Toronto (+900), Winnipeg (+1900), Hamilton (+4000). At 0-11, the Ottawa Redblacks aren’t even on the list and may be the worst CFL team of all-time.

8 – SUMMER HIGHLIGHT #1: It was a joy to be the Voice of the Moose Jaw Miller Express of the Western Canadian Baseball League for a third straight season on Flo College Baseball. The Millers set a franchise record for wins (41) while P Westin Walls (strikeouts) and SS Thomas Soto (runs scored) set WCBL single season records. Alas, Moose Jaw bowed out to the eventual champion Saskatoon Berries, being swept in Round 2.

9 – SUMMER HIGHLIGHT #2: The Dwight Yoakam concert on June 24 at Temple Gardens Centre was the highest-attended show in Moose Jaw history. I’d never seen the Pikeville, Kentucky product in concert before despite being a lifelong fan, and the way the 69-year old from strutted around on stage, he reminded me of a country Mick Jagger. Thanks Corey Nyhagen for the ticket!

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: Am I the only person in Moose Jaw without a tattoo? … Theoren Fleury says hi.  … Super Bowl 61 pick: LA Rams vs Denver Broncos. … Not ready to provide a Stanley Cup Final pick yet. … Thanks Moose Jaw for the greatest summer of my life!

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