Moose Jaw Warriors felled in Memorial Cup semi-finals
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This article was published 11/06/2024 (293 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A memorable season came to a disappointing end for Dominion City’s Denton Mateychuk, on the precipice of an appearance in the Memorial Cup finals.
Mateychuk and the Moose Jaw Warriors were downed 7-1 by the host Saginaw Spirit in the major junior semi-finals.
“We kind of took our foot of the gas,” Mateychuk said in a media availability after the game.
“Against a team like that, you can’t give them that many opportunities, or they’re going to do what they did.”
A five-goal second period gave the host Spirit more than enough offense to get by the Western Hockey League champions, and into the final, where they would upset the London Knights 4-3 and take home the Memorial Cup.
Saginaw is only the third American team to win the Memorial Cup, awarded to the best major junior team playing in North America. Portland (1983/1998) and Spokane (1991/2008) have also won the tournament, which features the three league champions and host team.
Mateychuk isn’t coming away from the tournament empty-handed, as he was awarded the George Parson Trophy, given to the most sportsmanlike player in the tournament.
He was also named a tournament all-star, scoring seven points across four games, and a Canadian Hockey League all-star.
Mateychuk’s future is up in the air next season, as he is able to join the professional ranks on a full-time basis. Mateychuk was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the NHL draft in 2022.
“It’s been an absolute blast going through all these years with these guys, pretty much growing up with them, becoming best friends, brothers,” Mateychuk said.
“It’s been the best years of my life so far, and I’ve enjoyed every minute with these guys and didn’t take anything for granted.”
It was a historical season for Moose Jaw, winning their first WHL championship.
George Parsons was a former major junior player that had his professional career stopped by an eye injury in 1939. He played in two Memorial Cups in 1933 and 1934. After his injury, Parsons would help develop hockey equipment to protect the next generation of players with CCM.