Watching Moose Jaw Warriors forward Jagger Firkus during the final scrimmage of training camp on Saturday afternoon, sometimes all you could do was just sit back and laugh.
Not only was the Seattle Kraken prospect one of the best forwards on the ice for long stretches, some of the plays he was setting up and moves he was making to create space looked like he belonged at a much higher level of play.
His goal in the second period was Firkus Prime: a quick dipsy doodle at the blueline to evade a pressing defenceman, a burst of speed to the right faceoff circle and a perfect bar-down shot top corner, one of two goals he scored in the game.
None of this is even remotely a surprise at this point, as the 19-year-old forward will without question be one of the top players in the Western Hockey League should he return to the team after Kraken camp.
Until then, it’s a matter of getting business done with the Warriors training camp.
And needless to say, business is good.
“Things have been going really well, it feels good and pretty similar to all the other camps,” Firkus said shortly after his Team Black finished off a 7-2 win. “They’re all kind of a blur to be honest, I don’t remember a whole lot about them, but I think this has been awesome in that I’m an older guy on the team and I can talk to the young guys and meet some of the prospects and help them come along, too.”
Firkus is taking his role as an elder statesman on the Warriors seriously and the team is as well -- he’s billeted with 2023 first-round WHL Entry Draft pick Aaron Sawatzky as the Warriors brass aim to see a bit of Firkus’ magic rub off on one of their young up-and-comers.
“The last couple years, being in the playoffs and playing all these games, it’s matured me to the point where I know what the young kids are feeling and what I wanted when I was younger,” Firkus said. “All I really wanted was the older guys to talk to me and to have respect from them, and that’s what I’m trying to do here with these guys.”
As one of the faces of the franchise, there also comes a fair amount of fame. And there has been a moment or two where youngsters have been almost in awe upon first meeting him.
“A little bit, but not that often,” Firkus said with a grin. “It’s pretty cool when that happens, and when a kid does that to you, you want to be the nicest person back to them and show not only that I’m a decent hockey player, but I’m a good guy off the ice as well.”
Of course, there’s always the chance that when Firkus finishes off his final exhibition game prior to heading to Kraken camp, it’ll also be his final game in a Warriors uniform. That’s the ultimate goal, and Firkus is hoping the comfort level of having been through two NHL camps will help in that direction this time around.
As a 19-year-old, Firkus will have to make the Kraken outright or be returned to the Warriors, but he can play nine regular season games before his NHL contract kicks in.
“I expect it’ll be pretty similar to the last couple seasons, a lot like here in Moose Jaw right now, just a higher level,” Firkus said. “So you have to go and play your game and show the staff that you’ve improved through the summer and the year and show you’ve matured.
“That’s probably the best thing about coming to camp here, getting the pace and going forward to Seattle,” he added. “It’s coming up quick so I have to make sure I’m ready and the staff here have done a great job helping get me ready for it.”
Should he return to Moose Jaw, there’s little question Firkus will be expecting huge things. Coming off a campaign where he put up 40 goals and 88 points in 66 games, there’s little question that 50 goals and 100 points is within the realm of possibility.
“If that happens, that would be great, but I think we have a really good team here and the main goal will be to win a championship,” Firkus said.
The Warriors wrap up training camp on Sunday afternoon with the Black White Intrasquad Game. Puck drop is 12 p.m. and admission is by donation to the Canadian Mental Health Association.
