MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- The ranks of professional hockey officially came calling for a pair of Moose Jaw Warriors this week.
The most recent announcement saw forward Brayden Yager sign a three-year, entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins, his first National Hockey League contract since being drafted by Pittsburgh 14th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft.
It seemed almost inevitable that Yager would sign eventually, especially after the kind of season he put together last year.
The 19-year-old forward had a career-best 35 goals and 95 points in 57 regular season games with the Warriors and then added another 11 goals and 27 points in 20 playoff games as Moose Jaw won their first Western Hockey League championship. Yager then capped his campaign with three goals and six points in four games at the Memorial Cup.
All told, Yager has scored 104 goals and 250 points in his career with the Warriors since being selected third overall in the 2020 Prospects Draft.
Yager will enter his second training camp with Pittsburgh this fall and as a 19-year-old will return to the Warriors should he not crack the big club.
While Yager inking a pro contract was a matter of time, there was some question as to where graduated defenceman Lucas Brenton would land in the 2024-25 campaign -- and now there’s a definitive answer.
The Rockford IceHogs announced Wednesday that the 21-year-old rearguard had signed a one-year American Hockey League contract with the Chicago Blackhawks affiliate, giving Brenton his first AHL opportunity.
“Lucas impressed our staff at the rookie tournament last season as an invite. He returned to junior in Moose Jaw and helped them win the WHL championship and a berth in the Memorial Cup. His size and strength are very noticeable, and we are excited to watch his development during his first professional season,” said Mark Bernard, IceHogs president of hockey operations and general manager, in a press release.
Brenton had a goal and 17 points and a plus-21 plus/minus while playing all 68 games before adding another two goals and seven points in 20 playoff games. All told, Brenton suited up in 230 WHL games and had seven goals and 53 points.
-- With files from Marc Smith / Moose Jaw Warriors
