Mateychuk named playoff MVP for WHL champion Warriors

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This article was published 24/05/2024 (680 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For the first time in franchise history, the Moose Jaw Warriors are Western Hockey League (WHL) champions.

The Warriors, who are captained by Dominion City’s Denton Mateychuk, had never won a game in a league championship series before this year, but made short work of the Portland Winterhawks, sweeping the finals with a 4-2 victory in game four in Moose Jaw.

“I don’t think there’s anything I can compare it to,” Mateychuk said a couple days after the victory.

“That was a pretty special moment. I’ve been playing with some of these guys since we first came into the WHL, and known them before that. It’s really special to do it with all those guys.”

Mateychuk said going into the finals against Portland, the team liked the match-up. Despite playing the first two games on the road, the Warriors came back to Moose Jaw with a 2-0 series advantage.

“We knew we wanted to get the first in Portland, and (when we did), we didn’t just come there to win one game, we wanted to get both,” he said.

“We thought if we kept working we could get it done.”

Game four was in the balance until the final five minutes. With the score 2-2, a Portland player managed to beat Warriors starter Jackson Unger, only to have the puck ring off the post. The play immediately went the other way, where Brayden Schuurman sniped home the game-winning goal.

A empty-netter with two minutes left in the game gave Moose Jaw enough breathing room to enjoy the final minutes, with the hometown crowd celebrating with the players as the clock ticked down.

“The fan support from the community has been top-notch,” Mateychuk said.

“They deserve this just as much as we do. (The franchise) has been around for 40 years, I’m just happy we could bring them a championship.”

Included as one of those fans is Steinbach Pistons head coach Paul Dyck. Dyck played his junior hockey in Moose Jaw, and was named to the franchise’s hall of fame last season.

Dyck said he was watching the finals with baited breath, alongside a group chat with 25 other alumni.

“(I had a) sense of pride being an alumni and I was excited for the Warrior organization,” Dyck said.

“I am so happy for their fan base and the city of Moose Jaw being able to celebrate their first championship. It’s been a lot of fun watching Denton’s career progress to the point of dominating in the WHL and likely ending his junior career with a title.”

The Warriors have had a connection to Southeast Manitoba for a long time. Not only did Dyck thrive as a Warrior, but NHL players in Oakbank’s Quinton Howden and St Malo’s Travis Hamonic have also suited up for the team over the years.

Moose Jaw is one of the smaller cities which hosts a WHL team.

“Playing in Moose Jaw is likely fairly similar to playing in Steinbach,” Dyck said.

“It’s a small city where the Warriors mean a tremendous amount to the people. Everyone knows the players and the players get connected with the community.”

Mateychuk was named the WHL’s playoff MVP, adding another honour to his trophy case after he was named the league’s top defenseman this year.

For Mateychuk, all those awards pale in comparison to being able to accept the Ed Chynoweth Cup as team captain of the WHL champions.

“You play for moments like that,” Mateychuk said, remembering the feeling as he brought the trophy back to his waiting teammates.

“To celebrate, to win with your teammates, it’s a flood of emotions when you hoist that trophy.”

Mateychuk didn’t find the score-sheet in game four, but didn’t need to to be named the league’s best playoff performer. Despite playing as a defenseman, he finished with 30 points in 20 games. That was good for second in the league, only behind teammate Jagger Firkus.

Mateychuk’s insane offensive pace waned in the finals, but he still managed to impact the game, scoring twice in the second period of game three and finding ways to contribute.

“I just try to help my team in whatever way,” he said.

“I wasn’t on the scoresheet in that final game, but I impacted the game… If I score or get an assist, okay great, but I’m not really worried about that.”

Dyck said what makes Mateychuk so good is his hockey IQ. Mateychuk even suited up for the Pistons for eight games to start the 2020 season.

“He has tremendous awareness and this allows the game to really slow down for him,” Dyck said.

“Obviously he is very skilled, is a strong skater with excellent edges, but to me his mind is what separates him from the majority of players.”

Winning the championship doesn’t mean the end of Warriors hockey this year. The WHL champions represent the league at the Memorial Cup, where they’ll play the Ontario Hockey League champion London Knights, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Champion Drummondville Voltigeurs and host Saginaw Spirit.

“The job’s not done,” Mateychuk said.

The games begin May 24, with Moose Jaw playing Saginaw at 7:30 p.m. Games will be broadcast on TSN.

The winners of the WHL take home the Ed Chynoweth Cup. The trophy was named after the long-time league executive in 2007. Chynoweth served as president of the WHL and Canadian Hockey League, which oversees the three major junior leagues in North America, and was instrumental in creating the major junior structure that remains today.