The 2026 Western Regionals opened with two very different games on Thursday — one a tight, back‑and‑forth battle, the other a dominant display from start to finish. By the end of Day 1, both the Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors and the host Regina Pat Canadians sat at 1‑0, while Winnipeg and Thunder Bay will look to rebound today.
Game 1: Moose Jaw 6, Winnipeg 3
Moose Jaw set the tone early in the tournament, striking twice in the opening six minutes to jump ahead of the Winnipeg Bruins. Winnipeg pushed back hard, scoring twice in the second period to pull even at 3‑3 heading into the third.
From there, the Warriors took over.
Moose Jaw scored three unanswered goals in the final frame, powered by a standout performance from Ryan Gibbs, who finished with 2 goals and 2 assists. Maxx Fuessel and Maxon Johnston also found the back of the net, while Carson Deichert and Tobin Schaefer delivered key third‑period markers to seal the win.
Shots were nearly even (29–28 Winnipeg), but Moose Jaw’s execution in the third made the difference.
Game 2: Regina 13, Thunder Bay 1
The host Pat Canadians wasted no time asserting themselves, erupting for seven first‑period goals on their way to a commanding 13–1 victory over the Thunder Bay Kings.
Regina’s depth was on full display, with eight different goal scorers contributing. The night belonged to Malaki Martin, who posted 4 goals and 2 assists, while Cooper Bratton added 4 assists in a game where Regina outshot Thunder Bay 55–18.
Ben Meyer stopped 17 of 18 shots for the win.
Day 2 Preview
With both Moose Jaw and Regina starting 1‑0, one of them will take sole possession of first place tonight when they meet at 7:30 PM. Earlier in the day, Winnipeg and Thunder Bay — both 0‑1 — will battle for their first win at 4:30 PM
Tickets are available for both – click the link to purchase: Tickets (Regionals) | Regina Pat Canadians
