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Home , Brandon Wheat Kings, Mike Keane, Moose Jaw Warriors, Regina Pats, Theoren Fleury

THE WHL COMES TO

THE WARRIORS ARE BORN In 1984, the Canucks folded to make room for the WHL’s when ’s franchise was transferred to Moose Jaw. The four year old now called the Crushed Can home. The inaugural season for the Warriors was a memorable one.

FIRST’S FOR THE FRANCHISE In their first season, 1984-1985 season, the Warriors posted a 21-50-1 record. Placing only above the in the standings, the Warriors very first landed near the top of the scoring race in the WHL. As a 20 year old rookie, Mark MacKay scored 66 goals and 74 assists, leading the team in scoring. Team mate Kent Hayes scored 114 points in the opening season. , as a 16 year old scored 75 points. wracked up 141 PIM along side Kelly Kozack who had the most PIM’s with 163. Other members of the first team include: Troy Edwards, Kelly Buchburger and .

FIRST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE (1985-86) The 1985-86 team was coached by Barry Trapp with assistant coach Greg Kvisle. This season had 17 year old Theo Fleury topping the Warriors scoring charts with 108 points. As a 20 year old Kent Hayes added 92 points to his name. Mike Keane wracked up 83 points. , as an 18 year old banked an incredible 206 PIM’s. joined the squad this season, along with Jerome Bechard who played four games as a 16 year old. The Warriors acquired Pat Beauchesne in a trade with Medicine Hat. The Warriors man between the pipes was Darryl Gilmour.

The Warriors rivalry with the could stem back to the first round of the 1986 playoffs, where the Warriors defeated the Pats 3-0. The Warriors would face Medicine Hat in the next round, where they would be defeated 4-2. Medicine Hat would go on to win the title after beating Portland in a deciding Game Seven.

FLEURY CONTINUES HIS SUPREMECY (1986-1987)

The Warriors 86-87 team was once again led by Theo Fleury in the scoring race. Eighteen year old Fleury scored 61 goals and 68 assists. Fleury was again in the top 5 scorers in the entire league. Trevor Jobe scored 87 points for the tribe this season. Edwards put in another 78 points and Keane 70 points. Jerome Bechard and Pat Beauchesne led the team in PIM’s with 163 & 151 respectively. A major acquisition for the Warriors came from the in for Tim Logan and Terry Baustad.

For the second consecutive year the Warriors met up with the Regina Pats in the first round of playoffs followed by the .

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY (1987-1988)

This season marked the Warriors worst record, only winning 18 games. Although not a good showing as a team, Theo Fleury continued his scoring blaze with 68 goals and 92 assists totalling 160 points. Fleury tied in scoring with Swift Current’s . Lyle Odelein scored 58 points, 166 PIM’s. Blair Atcheynum banked 48 points. Jerome Bechard was in the box for over 280 minutes, topping Theo Fleury’s 235 PIM’s.

ATCHEYNUM FORGES ON (1988-1989)

With at the helm, the Warriors began their first season without Theo Fleury. Blair Atcheynum scored 70 goals and a total of 138 points. Rob Harvey had 85 points, Rob Reimer came in with 49 points. Jerome Bechard, as a 19 year old had 242 PIM’s. Steve Young was close behind with 224 PIM’s.

The Warriors acquired Scott Barnstable from Prince Albert. Warriors Derek Kletzel joined the tribe for a single game this season. The Warriors would head into playoffs ready to face the Medicine Hat Tigers. The Warriors took the Tigers in three straight. In the conference semi-final, the Warriors lost to the Swift Current Broncos. Swift Current would go on to defeat Portland for the WHL title.

HARVEY HELPS WARRIORS CAUSE (1989-1990)

Greg Kvisle with Assistant Coach Lorne Molleken led the 89/90 team to a 28-41-3 record. Rob Harvey led the team in scoring with 102 points. Jarome Bechard had 93 points and 195 PIM’s. Rob Reimer added 77 points. Other familiar names included Chris Bright, Kevin Masters and Derek Kletzel. Jason Fitzsimmons and Jeff Calvert held down the crease for the Warriors. The Warriors did not make the playoffs this season.