Forward Luka Burzan -- who played two and a half seasons with the Warriors before joining the Brandon Wheat Kings in the Kale Clague deal at the 2018 WHL trade deadline -- picked up a 4-2 win over Jacob Santerre of the QMJHL’s Cape Breton Eagles in his opening round match on Saturday afternoon.
The tournament is an online event featuring a representative from each of the 60 CHL teams facing off in the NHL 21 PlayStation 4 hockey video game. Games will play down until the championship final on Thursday, Dec. 17, where the best-of-three final will determine the overall winner and a $1,000 donation to the victor’s charity of choice.
Things didn’t go as well for former Warrior and tournament ‘distinguished guest’ Zach Hodder. Hodder, now the WHL director of player development, played five seasons in the league, including six games with the Warriors in his overage season in 2013-14.
Hodder ran into Lukas Svejovsky of the Medicine Hat Tigers and took one on the chin, falling 7-1.
Things were just as tough for former Warrior and Regina Pats forward Carson Denomie, who played for Moose Jaw during parts of the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. He took on Carter Murchison of the QMJHL Rouyn-Noranda Huskies and ended up dropping a 7-2 decision.
Burzan will now face Zach Roy of the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs in his second-round match-up. Roy defeated Pier-Olivier Roy of the QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques 5-4 in his opening game.
Moose Jaw Warriors defenceman Cory King will play his first round contest against Kyrell Sopotyk of the Kamloops Blazers at 4:40 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5. With a victory, King will face the winner of the game between Majid Kaddoura of the Prince George Cougars and Jaylen Luypen of the Edmonton Oil Kings.
All games will be broadcast on Facebook Live and Twitch, and fans can follow along on social media at #KiaCHLeCup.
